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

My little boy, with smooth, fair cheeks,
And dreamy, large, brown eyes,...

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 Xccc dede fgfg dhdh icic
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11010111 110111 110101001 110111 10110001 010111 11011111 110001 10010101 111111 01110111 011101 10111011 1111111 11011011 010101 11111101 111111 11110011 1101001 10110101 110111 011110111 111111
  • Amount of stanzas: 6
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 126
  • Average number of words per stanza: 25
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 31 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • 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; in, not are repeated.

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

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

  • summary of The Shadows;
  • 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