This is an analysis of the poem The Mother’s Visit that begins with:

LONG years ago she visited my chamber,
Steps soft and slow, a taper in her hand; ... 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: abXbCc abXbCc
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,6,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 10011100110 1111010001 0111101111 1111000011 101000111 101010101 11001101110 1011011001 0111101110 111100011 101000111 101011111
  • Amount of stanzas: 2
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 240
  • Average number of words per stanza: 46
  • Amount of lines: 12
  • Average number of symbols per line: 39 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • 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; mother is repeated.

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

    The poet repeated the same word me 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 The Mother’s Visit;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik