This is an analysis of the poem Sonnet 02 that begins with:

Not that I always struck the proper mean
Of what mankind must give for what they gain, ... 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: aaaXbcbcXXdbXd
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 14,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: sonnet with iambic pentameter or irregular meter
  • Metre: 1111110101 0111111111 1111011101 1001010110 10111100101 1111010101 1011011111 1111110111 1111010111 0111111100 10011101010 11101011101 1101010101 11110111010
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 643
  • Average number of words per stanza: 119
  • Amount of lines: 14
  • Average number of symbols per line: 45 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 9
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; of, and are repeated.

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

  • summary of Sonnet 02;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Alan Seeger