This is an analysis of the poem Life that begins with:

Life's a name
That nothing here can truly claim;... full text

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: aaXbccbXXddeeffcc
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 17,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: heroic couplets
  • Metre: 101 11011101 0101111101 111101 11010011 11010101 1011101011111 01111101 1101111111 0111110111 11011100101 0111010100 0101010100 1111110001 11011 1111111111 110101101111
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 655
  • Average number of words per stanza: 119
  • Amount of lines: 17
  • Average number of symbols per line: 38 (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; and, we are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same word and is repeated.

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Abraham Cowley