This is an analysis of the poem The Slave's Complaint that begins with:

Am I sadly cast aside,
On misfortune's rugged tide?... 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: aaabcccbdddb eeeb aaab aaabXaaab
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 12,4,4,9,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1110101 11000101 0011101 010 11101001 1110101 1011101 010 1011111 1010101 1011111 010 1011101 1010101 0011111 010 1110101 1010111 1010101 010 10011101 1111101 1010011 010 11010111 11110101 11010101 010
  • Amount of stanzas: 5
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 163
  • Average number of words per stanza: 25
  • Amount of lines: 28
  • Average number of symbols per line: 29 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 4
  • 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 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 Slave's Complaint;
  • 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 Moses Horton