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

Can this be my poem?—this poor fragment
Of bald thought in meanest language dressed!... 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: aaXX bcdc efgf bada gaXa gbhb bihi ccjcXidi bddd gacaXjcec
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,4,4,8,4,9,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1001100110 011010101 1010101110 10100101000 1011001110 001011111 0010101010 101011101 1011001010 111010101 1011001010 001010101 1010111110 110011011 0010111010 1010100101 1010101110 001011111 1100110011 101011100 1010101110 001110111 1100101010 000110101 1010101110 110010101 1010110010 101111111 10101011110 111011001 1111101010 111001101 10101110111 0010010101 0010101010 101010101 1010101110 111110101 1100111010 101010101 1010101110 001011101 1100101010 1001111101 1111001110 001011011 0010111110 111010101
  • Amount of stanzas: 11
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 173
  • Average number of words per stanza: 34
  • Amount of lines: 48
  • Average number of symbols per line: 39 (medium-length 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 author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; this, of, it, and are repeated.

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

    The author used the same words does, only at the beginnings of some neighboring stanzas. The figure of speech is a kind of anaphora.

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

  • summary of Empty;
  • 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