This is an analysis of the poem A Far Cry From Africa that begins with:

A wind is ruffling the tawny pelt
Of Africa, Kikuyu, quick as flies,...

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: abXXbXbXcbXbddcddbXcc bdddXdabeeXe
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 21,12,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 0101000101 0100100111 1001010001 1011010101 10011001001 11010111011 0101011101 01000100100 1010011101 0100010011 10111001101 0011010011 111100101 0011011101 0100011101 110011011 10010010101 01001110101 1001010001 1111011101 0011100101 01100100101 010100010101 0101010101 00101000101 1111000101 1111010001 1111 010100010111 0101001010111 0101111111 1111110101 1111010011
  • Amount of stanzas: 2
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 669
  • Average number of words per stanza: 119
  • Amount of lines: 33
  • Average number of symbols per line: 40 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The speaker asks many questions. Perhaps, he or she is in confusion.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; beast, of, i are repeated.

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

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

  • summary of A Far Cry From Africa;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Derek Walcott