This is an analysis of the poem Sonnet Xiv: If Thou Must Love Me that begins with:

If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say... 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: XaabbaabcacacX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 14,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: sonnet with iambic pentameter or irregular meter
  • Metre: 0111110011 0111110111 100101010101 0101010101 1101011101 010101110101 1110010101 0111111111 1010110111 1111010111 0101010111 1101111111 1111111101 1111110100
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 642
  • Average number of words per stanza: 120
  • Amount of lines: 14
  • Average number of symbols per line: 45 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 9
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

  • summary of Sonnet Xiv: If Thou Must Love Me;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning