This is an analysis of the poem Limerick: There Was An Old Man Of Kilkenny that begins with:

There was an Old Man of Kilkenny,
Who never had more than a penny;... 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: XaaaX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 5,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: limerick
  • Metre: 111110100 110111010 111110 010110 110110100
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 146
  • Average number of words per stanza: 29
  • Amount of lines: 5
  • Average number of symbols per line: 28 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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 Of Kilkenny;
  • 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