This is an analysis of the poem Only A Slight Flirtation that begins with:

‘Twas just a slight flirtation,
And where’s the harm, I pray, ... 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: abXb ccdc Xcec fcdc ageg hifiXheae
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,9,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1101010 1100111 0101011 110101 0111011 011111 1111110 110111 1101010 110101 1111010 110101 1100011 010111 1111010 110101 1101010 110101 1111110 011101 0111010 010111 0101010 011101 1101010 100101 1111010 110101
  • Amount of stanzas: 7
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 118
  • Average number of words per stanza: 21
  • Amount of lines: 28
  • Average number of symbols per line: 29 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 5
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; her is repeated.

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

    The author used the same word they at the beginnings of some neighboring stanzas. The figure of speech is a kind of anaphora.

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

  • summary of Only A Slight Flirtation;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Ella Wheeler Wilcox