This is an analysis of the poem A Ballad Of Theatricals that begins with:

Though all the critics' canons grow-
Far seedier than the actors' own-... 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: ababbcbC ababbcbC ababbXbC XXbcbC
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,8,8,6,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rondeau rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11010101 11010101 11010111 11010101 11110101 111101111 1101001 0111111 1110101 1000100101 10010011 11010011 10011111 110011111 10110111 0111111 101101111 110110101 11010001 11010101 11111111 10110100 11001111 0111111 10 11110111 11111111 10111111 0111111
  • Amount of stanzas: 5
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 202
  • Average number of words per stanza: 37
  • Amount of lines: 29
  • Average number of symbols per line: 35 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; and, when, all, your are repeated.

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

    The poet repeated the same word things at the end of some neighboring stanzas. The poetic device is a kind of epiphora.

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

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

  • summary of A Ballad Of Theatricals;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Gilbert Keith Chesterton