This is an analysis of the poem Retrospect And Forecast that begins with:

Turn round, O Life, and know with eyes aghast
The Breast that fed thee-Death, disguiseless, stern:...

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: abbaabba cXXXXc
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,6,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: sonnet with iambic pentameter or irregular meter
  • Metre: 1111110101 01111110001 10101110111 0101110111 1111110111 11110010101 101001101101 1111110101 10111001001 0101001000 1101010001 11010010110 100011101000 11001110101
  • Amount of stanzas: 2
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 306
  • Average number of words per stanza: 53
  • Amount of lines: 14
  • Average number of symbols per line: 43 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

  • summary of Retrospect And Forecast;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Clark Ashton Smith