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

What though the sun must set, and darkness come,
Shall we turn coldly from the blessèd light,... 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: ababbcbcdedefgfg
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 16,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 1101111101 111100011 110010111001 0101011101 1101010111 1101010111 0111010111 1101010101 11010101001 1111110101 1111010101 1101010101 11000111110 1101010111 10111100110 1111011101
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 725
  • Average number of words per stanza: 129
  • Amount of lines: 16
  • Average number of symbols per line: 44 (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; or is repeated.

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

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Frances Anne Kemble