This is an analysis of the poem A Clasp Of Hands that begins with:

SOFT, small, and sweet as sunniest flowers
That bask in heavenly heat... 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: abXB bab abaB cdcD dcd cdcD edXD dedXedeD
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,3,4,4,3,4,4,8,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: ballad stanza
  • Metre: 111111010 1101001 111111110 1111 010110101 010101 11010111 010001110 11110110 1101010110 1111 010100101 110001 11010111 0101 11110101 110101 11111101 11110111 010101 010101101 0101 1101101001 1101101 11010100 11011 11011101 011111 11011101 11010101 111101 111100111 11011
  • Amount of stanzas: 9
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 127
  • Average number of words per stanza: 22
  • Amount of lines: 33
  • Average number of symbols per line: 34 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

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

  • summary of A Clasp Of Hands;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Algernon Charles Swinburne