This is an analysis of the poem Margaret To Dolcino that begins with:

Ask if I love thee? Oh, smiles cannot tell
Plainer what tears are now showing too well.... 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: aabbC XXddC XX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 5,5,2,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rondeau rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1011111101 1011111011 1111111101 1111111101 1011 10111111111 10110110110 1111101001 1011101101 1011 100101 101
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 143
  • Average number of words per stanza: 28
  • Amount of lines: 13
  • Average number of symbols per line: 32 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The speaker asks many questions. Perhaps, he or she is in confusion.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; had, i, thee, not are repeated.

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

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

    The poet repeated the same word thee at the end of some neighboring stanzas. The poetic device is a kind of epiphora.

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

  • summary of Margaret To Dolcino;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Charles Kingsley