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

WHEN in my narrow cell I lie,
The long day's penance done at last, ... 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: abab cdcd XXeX cfcf gfgf Xbebe
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,5,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: ballad stanza
  • Metre: 10110111 01110111 11010111 11010001 11011111 01111101 11010001 010101011 111101110 11011111 1101101110 1101111011 001111011 11011101 01010101 01010101 10010111 10111011 11110111 11010101 10111111 1111001 10010111 101111001
  • Amount of stanzas: 6
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 148
  • Average number of words per stanza: 29
  • Amount of lines: 29
  • Average number of symbols per line: 30 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    There are many exclamation marks in the poem. The speaker is excited. He or she has strong feelings on the subject that is described in the poem.

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

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

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

  • summary of The Monk;
  • 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