This is an analysis of the poem The First Dream that begins with:

The Wind is ghosting around the house tonight
and as I lean against the door of sleep...

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: aXbc deef aghc gXeg bXXd ehifXid
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,7,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 01010010101 1111010101 1010101011001 11011110110 1010101010 10010100 10011010010 10110100100100 1111110101 101110001001 11101011110 1111110110 1111010101 001101011 1010111001 111011011 101011111 001011101 1011011 1011010001110 0110100110 10100111 110010010001 101010100 1111110110 01010100100010
  • Amount of stanzas: 7
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 155
  • Average number of words per stanza: 31
  • Amount of lines: 26
  • Average number of symbols per line: 41 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; he, her are repeated.

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

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

  • summary of The First Dream;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Billy Collins