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

We curse our lot; we gird at fate;
Like peevish children we complain;... 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: ababcdca efgfdhdh aiaibjbj jkXkdbdb lmlmhehg
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,8,8,8,8,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: ballad stanza
  • Metre: 11111111 11010101 11111100 010111001 01110101 11011111 11010101 01011101 110010101 11010101 11010100 11010101 10110111 11111111 10010111 11011101 11010101 10110101 11110101 11010001 11011111 11010101 101100101 11110101 11011101 01110011 11011111 01110100 11110101 01011111 11010101 01010101 110100010 01011111 110101110 01000101 11000111 110110101 11111101 111111010
  • Amount of stanzas: 5
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 287
  • Average number of words per stanza: 50
  • Amount of lines: 44
  • Average number of symbols per line: 32 (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; we, death, and are repeated.

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

    The literary device anadiplosis is detected in two or more neighboring lines. The word/phrase death connects the lines.

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis