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

THESE many years since we began to be,
What have the gods done with us? what with me,... 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: aababB ccbcbB ddbdbB
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,6,6,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 1100110100 1101101101 10111111111 101110100101 1011110111 1100 0011001111 1111010111 1111111111 1111011101 0111011101 1100 1011011101 1111010111 110110001101 1011110111 1111111101 1100
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 255
  • Average number of words per stanza: 49
  • Amount of lines: 18
  • Average number of symbols per line: 42 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • 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; what, with, her, no are repeated.

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

    The poet repeated the same word years at the end of some neighboring stanzas. The poetic device is a kind of epiphora.

    The literary device anadiplosis is detected in two or more neighboring lines. The word/phrase brief connects the lines.

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

  • summary of Rondel;
  • 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