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

Thorny the ways that lead to Duty's shrine,
Thro' grim ravines, o'er iron crags they pass,...

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: abbacXXcddaX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 12,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 1001110101 11011010111 11010100101 1101011111 11111000101 1101111101 11111111010 11010000111 1001010111 1111010111 1111110001 11100111110
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 549
  • Average number of words per stanza: 107
  • Amount of lines: 12
  • Average number of symbols per line: 45 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 9
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Cicely Fox Smith