This is an analysis of the poem Vi: Lancer that begins with:

I 'listed at home for a lancer,
Oh who would not sleep with the brave?... 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: ABAb cdcd ebeB AaB efef ebeBXAaB
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,3,4,8,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 110111010 11111001 110111010 01101011 110011010 01001101 110011110 11001111 111010010 11101001 111110010 11111001 111101110 111011010 11111001 110011010 11111001 110110110 01001011 010010010 01011001 110111110 11111001 111101110 111011010 11111001
  • Amount of stanzas: 7
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 137
  • Average number of words per stanza: 28
  • Amount of lines: 26
  • Average number of symbols per line: 36 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • Mood of the speaker:

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

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

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words and, the are repeated.

    The poet repeated the same word brave 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 Vi: Lancer;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Alfred Edward Housman