This is an analysis of the poem On A Pen Of Thomas Starr King that begins with:

This is the reed the dead musician dropped,
With tuneful magic in its sheath still hidden;... 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: abaX bcbc adad XaXa ebeb
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 0001010101 01010001110 0101100101 0100100 1111000101 11010001110 1101010101 1101010 011100100101 01011111010 1001101111 0111010 0111010101 01010101000 0101110110 0101010 11010010111 11010101010 0011010101 1001010
  • Amount of stanzas: 5
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 161
  • Average number of words per stanza: 28
  • Amount of lines: 20
  • Average number of symbols per line: 39 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

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

  • summary of On A Pen Of Thomas Starr King;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Francis Bret Harte