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

Alone! Alone! No beacon, far or near!
   No chart, no compass, and no anchor stay! ... 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: abbaabba cdecde
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,6,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: sonnet with iambic pentameter or irregular meter
  • Metre: 0101110111 1111011101 1101001101 0101010111 1011111101 1101110111 1011010101 11011000111 1101011101 11111101010 1111010101 1101111101 11110111010 1101011111
  • Amount of stanzas: 2
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 377
  • Average number of words per stanza: 57
  • Amount of lines: 14
  • Average number of symbols per line: 53 (very long strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • Mood of the speaker:

    There are many exclamation marks in the poem. The speaker is excited. He or she has strong feelings on the subject that is described in the poem.

    The speaker asks many questions. Perhaps, he or she is in confusion.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; no, and, what are repeated.

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Ada Cambridge