This is an analysis of the poem A Private that begins with:

This ploughman dead in battle slept out of doors
Many a frozen night, and merrily...

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: aXaXbbcc
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 01010101101 1001011100 10110010111 101010111011 101011110101 01010010101 0111111111 1101111101
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 389
  • Average number of words per stanza: 65
  • Amount of lines: 8
  • Average number of symbols per line: 48 (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.

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

  • summary of A Private;
  • 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 Thomas