This is an analysis of the poem The Debt Unpayable that begins with:

What have I given,
Bold sailor on the sea? ... 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: abab cccc dbdb XeXe
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11110 110101 01110 111111 1111 110111 1111 010111 1111 110101 1101 111111 0101 1111110 0100 111101
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 93
  • Average number of words per stanza: 19
  • Amount of lines: 16
  • Average number of symbols per line: 23 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 5
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The speaker asks many questions. Perhaps, he or she is in confusion.

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

  • summary of The Debt Unpayable;
  • 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 William Bourdillon