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

These tales of old disguisings, are they not
Strange myths of souls that found themselves among...

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: abbaabba cdcd cX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,4,2,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: Shakespearean sonnet
  • Metre: 1101100111 1101110101 1001111011 1101011101 0111000101 1101010111 1100010101 11010100101 1101010011 1101011111 1101100111 1101001101 1110110011 10010101110
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 206
  • Average number of words per stanza: 36
  • Amount of lines: 14
  • Average number of symbols per line: 43 (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; old is repeated.

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

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Ezra Pound