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

Apollo left the golden Muse
And shepherded a mortal's sheep,... 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: AbA abA abA abA abAXabAA
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 3,3,3,3,8,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rondeau rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 01010101 11000101 1000101 01010111 01100101 01010101 01110111 11011101 1000101 01110101 010101001 01010101 11010001 110110001 1000101 11110001 11101111 1000101 01010101
  • Amount of stanzas: 6
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 99
  • Average number of words per stanza: 17
  • Amount of lines: 19
  • Average number of symbols per line: 31 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 5
  • 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.

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

  • summary of Villanelle;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Andrew Lang