This is an analysis of the poem Limerick: There Was An Old Man In A Boat that begins with:

There was an Old Man in a boat,
Who said, 'I'm afloat! I'm afloat!'... 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: aXXaa
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 5,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: limerick
  • Metre: 11111001 11101010 111111 111001 101011001
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 154
  • Average number of words per stanza: 34
  • Amount of lines: 5
  • Average number of symbols per line: 30 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • 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.

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

  • summary of Limerick: There Was An Old Man In A Boat;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Edward Lear