This is an analysis of the poem Work that begins with:

Yet life is not a vision nor a prayer,
But stubborn work; she may not shun her task.... 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: ababcc dedeff ghghii
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,6,6,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 1101010101 1101111101 1001010101 0101010101 1111010111 1101011101 11010010101 0100110101 1101010111 1111010011 001100111001 1101010101 1111010101 1101100101 11110010111 1111100101 1111110111 1111011111
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 278
  • Average number of words per stanza: 51
  • Amount of lines: 18
  • Average number of symbols per line: 45 (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.

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

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Emma Lazarus