This is an analysis of the poem Outward Bound that begins with:

We've painted the Ratcliff Highway red
To the tune of twelvemonth's pay - ...

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: abXbcb XdXeffCcD fcgcdc gdaeXXCcD
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,9,6,9,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: enclosed rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 110010111 00101001 110100110 0010101 111111101 1011101 11101100111 11111001 1 1 1010011101 10001010111 10110110101 100010010111 11010010101 111111111 110101 111111101 1111111 001110001 110101 11101001101 1110101 1 1 101011010 101010110010 10110110101 101010010111 11010010101
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 267
  • Average number of words per stanza: 48
  • Amount of lines: 30
  • Average number of symbols per line: 35 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • 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 words you, and are repeated.

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

  • summary of Outward Bound;
  • 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