This is an analysis of the poem Despair that begins with:

SMILE on me, mouth of red--so much too red,
Shine on me, eyes which darkened lashes shade,... 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: aaaabbbb cbcbbdbd
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,8,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 1111011111 1111110101 11111100101 1101110101 01110110101 01110111010 1111111011 11001111110 1101010111 01010101001 0101011101 010101011001 1101010111 1111110101 1101011011 1111111011
  • Amount of stanzas: 2
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 359
  • Average number of words per stanza: 66
  • Amount of lines: 16
  • Average number of symbols per line: 44 (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.

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

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words amid, and, the are repeated.

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

  • summary of Despair;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Edith Nesbit