This is an analysis of the poem On A Certain Religious Argument that begins with:

Argue it pro and con as you will,
And flout each other with words,...

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 cbcb bdbd dede bfbf agag
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: ballad stanza
  • Metre: 100111110 1111001 1010110101 0110101 11111101 0010001 101100101 1111101 1110100101 1011101 110010101 111100 1101011101 100111 1010100111 10100111 110010100 1110101 0100110101 10100101 1111101111 1111111 1101010101 1101111
  • Amount of stanzas: 6
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 141
  • Average number of words per stanza: 29
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 34 (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; and, you, why are repeated.

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

    The author used the same word you at the beginnings of some neighboring stanzas. The figure of speech is a kind of anaphora.

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

  • summary of On A Certain Religious Argument;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Edgar Albert Guest