This is an analysis of the poem A Widow's Hymn that begins with:

How near me came the hand of Death,
When at my side he struck my dear,... 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: aXaXbbccdedeccddfefeggbb
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 24,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11110101 11111111 11010101 1101101 11011111 11111111 11110101 01111101 01110101 11000101 11110101 11000101 11111110 11010111 11111000 11010101 11110001 111110001 01110111 0111100 11110111 10010001 11011111 01000101
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 809
  • Average number of words per stanza: 165
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 33 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • 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; my, how, me are repeated.

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

  • summary of A Widow's Hymn;
  • 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 Wither