This is an analysis of the poem Den Befriede Havfrue that begins with:

Mit Liv var en længsel, jeg selv ei forstod,
En hemmelig trængsel, et savn uden bod,...

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: XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 111111111110 1100111101 11101011001 1111101101 1101001101 10001010011 11011110100 1101101111 1101101111110 11111011000 1101110000 10010001110 1111010001 111111111 111001111 110100011
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 162
  • Average number of words per stanza: 32
  • Amount of lines: 16
  • Average number of symbols per line: 40 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • 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; en, ngsel, er, m, skal are repeated.

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

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

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

  • summary of Den Befriede Havfrue;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Bernhard Severin Ingemann