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

I had a little Sorrow,
Born of a little Sin,...

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: XabacccX XdbdeXed XfXfXccX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,8,8,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1101010 100101 11011101 111101 110101011 101011101 11010101 1111110 01110100 010101 11111011 011101 11010111 110111010 01111111 110110 1111010 110111 11010111 010101 1101111010 100101011 100110101 1111010
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 252
  • Average number of words per stanza: 50
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 31 (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, my, i are repeated.

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

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay