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

'Ships . . . they go,' said Murphy, 'like a spent pay-roll . . .
They're sunk in the deep water or they're wrecked in the shoal;...

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:
  • Stanza lengths (in strings):
  • Closest metre:
  • Сlosest rhyme:
  • Сlosest stanza type:
  • Guessed form:
  • Metre:
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 251
  • Average number of words per stanza: 48
  • Amount of lines: 12
  • Average number of symbols per line: 62 (very long strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 12
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; they're, in, ships, go, they, times are repeated.

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

    The poet repeated the same word ' 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 Memories;
  • 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