This is an analysis of the poem Vain Hope that begins with:

Sometimes, to solace my sad heart, I say,
Though late it be, though lily-time be past,... 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: abbabbX cddXbbc aeeXXca
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 7,7,7,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 0101011111 1100110101 1101010101 1010110011 1111010101 111100011011 1111 11111101001 1111010111 1001110100 111011111100 1101001111 110101011111 0101 10111011011 1111110101 0100111101 0111110100 1111110110 111101111111 1110
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 284
  • Average number of words per stanza: 57
  • Amount of lines: 21
  • Average number of symbols per line: 40 (medium-length strings)
  • 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; though, be, i are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same word though is repeated.

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Ernest Christopher Dowson