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

The doubt you fought so long
The cynic net you cast, ... 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: ababbbbb Xcdccece dfdffgfg hihiibib djdjjdjd
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,8,8,8,8,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 011111 010111 010001 010111 111111 111101 010111 010111 111101 110101 010101 010101 010101 0111010 010101 1111010 110101 111001 111111 110111 110111 0101111 110111 1101011 111101 110011 0100011 111101 111101 111111 100111 1100101 101101 010101 111101 010001 111101 110101 110101 111111
  • Amount of stanzas: 5
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 219
  • Average number of words per stanza: 44
  • Amount of lines: 40
  • Average number of symbols per line: 27 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The speaker asks many questions. Perhaps, he or she is in confusion.

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

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

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Edwin Arlington Robinson