This is an analysis of the poem Saul And David that begins with:

It was a villainous spirit, snub-nosed, foul
Of breath, thick-taloned and malevolent,...

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: abba cddc XXdX ceec fggf aXda
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: enclosed rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 01010010111 01110010100 110011100011 1010101 1111110111 0101011101 10010101111 100101 010001000011 101100111000 01010111010 10101010 01011100101 01011101001 110101100101 1010001 10110010101 10010101001 1001011011 101001 11010100010 010101001110 1001100001 1111010
  • Amount of stanzas: 6
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 163
  • Average number of words per stanza: 27
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 40 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

    There are many three dots in the poem. Readers should think of the author's idea together with the pensive speaker.

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

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

  • summary of Saul And David;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Anthony Evan Hecht