This is an analysis of the poem The Ballad Of St. Barbara that begins with:

(St Barbara is the patron saint of gunners, and those in danger
of sudden death.)... 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:
  • Stanza lengths (in strings):
  • Closest metre:
  • Сlosest rhyme:
  • Сlosest stanza type:
  • Guessed form:
  • Metre:
  • Amount of stanzas: 42
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 190
  • Average number of words per stanza: 37
  • Amount of lines: 186
  • Average number of symbols per line: 42 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; of, and, to, that, blue, they, returns are repeated.

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

    The author used the same words her, with, the, and at the beginnings of some neighboring stanzas. The figure of speech is a kind of anaphora.

    The poet repeated the same word ' 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 words/phrases praise, three connect the lines.

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

  • summary of The Ballad Of St. Barbara;
  • 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