This is an analysis of the poem Christmas Cards that begins with:

1.—For Downing Street
We do not think that everything is well,...

Elements of the verse: questions and answers

The information we provided is prepared by means of a special computer program. Use the criteria sheet to understand greatest poems or improve your poetry analysis essay.

  • Rhyme scheme: abcbcX XaaddX XeeeeX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,6,6,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11101 1111110101 1111010011 1111010111 1101000101 01011 110100101 1110010111 1111110111 11010101110 11111101010 01011 1110101 11110111 110111 11010001 110101 01011
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 203
  • Average number of words per stanza: 39
  • Amount of lines: 18
  • Average number of symbols per line: 33 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; we is repeated.

    The poet repeated the same word 1944 at the end of some neighboring stanzas. The poetic device is a kind of epiphora.

If you write a school or university poetry essay, you should Include in your explanation of the poem:

  • summary of Christmas Cards;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by A. P. Herbert