This is an analysis of the poem The Opposing Sex that begins with:

The Widows of Ashur
Are loud in their wailing:... 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: ABXXabAB XXcXcXXXXbAbbbabA
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,17,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 010010 110110 110010 110010 110010 011010 010010 110110 010100 110100 110110 010100 110110 011100 010100 110100 111110 010010 011110 011110 011010 010010 111110 010010
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 185
  • Average number of words per stanza: 35
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 22 (very short strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 4
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; of is repeated.

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

    The author used the same word the at the beginnings of some neighboring stanzas. The figure of speech is a kind of anaphora.

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

  • summary of The Opposing Sex;
  • 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