This is an analysis of the poem The Willow that begins with:

On sweet young earth where the myrtle presses,
Long we lay, when the May was new;...

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: abab cdcd
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: ballad stanza
  • Metre: 1111101010 11110111 011110010010 010011101 1110101010 100100111 0100101110 01101001001
  • Amount of stanzas: 2
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 174
  • Average number of words per stanza: 34
  • Amount of lines: 8
  • Average number of symbols per line: 43 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 9
  • 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 The Willow;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Dorothy Parker