Azrael by Ambrose Bierce: poem analysis

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

The moon in the field of the keel-plowed main
Was watching the growing tide:... 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 cdcX edeX fafa bXbX XXdd bbbb dddX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: ballad stanza
  • Metre: 0100100111 1100101 01001011001 11101101 111001011001 11111011 1101100101 1110111 0101100111 1110111 110111111 111 1110100101 1110101 0101100101 1100101 111100101 1100111 0100111101 11001010 111101011 11111001 01001111111 10101111 1111100101 1111101 1111001001 11101001 111101111 11101101 111100111 111
  • Amount of stanzas: 8
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 143
  • Average number of words per stanza: 29
  • Amount of lines: 32
  • Average number of symbols per line: 35 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7

  • 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; i, ', he are repeated.

    There is a poetic device epiphora at the end of some neighboring lines ' is repeated).

    The poet repeated the same word ' 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 Azrael;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Ambrose Bierce

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