This is an analysis of the poem Christmas, 1880 that begins with:

Great-hearted child, thy very being
The Son...

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: Xa XabXaa cccccXcdd efeXfcc bgbggaa ahahhdd
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 2,6,9,7,7,7,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rondeau rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 110111010 01 1101011100 11010011111 1001010001 1111100100 1101100101 1110100001 0111010101 1001011101 0101110111 1111010111 111 10 11101 01000101101 11000110011 1111111111 1111111111 0111011101 1111010100 1001011001 1000111101 1111011011 1111010101 0101010101 1101011101 11100111001 1110010101 1011010101 11010001001 1101110101 1101111111 1111111011 01110101001 1011000101 1111010101 01010101011
  • Amount of stanzas: 5
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 303
  • Average number of words per stanza: 58
  • Amount of lines: 39
  • Average number of symbols per line: 38 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • Mood of the speaker:

    There are many exclamation marks in the poem. The speaker is excited. He or she has strong feelings on the subject that is described in the poem.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; who, thou are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words that, but are repeated.

    The literary device anadiplosis is detected in two or more neighboring lines. The word/phrase alone connects the lines.

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

  • summary of Christmas, 1880;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by George MacDonald