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

Mother, I'm tired, and I would fain be sleeping;
Let me repose upon thy bosom sick; ...

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 cdcd efef gXgX aeae Xgag
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 100101111010 1101011101 11011111110 0111110111 10010101010 1011101101 11010101010 1011011111 10110111110 1111010101 1101110010 10110101101 11111101011 11010010100 11110111111 11011100101 11111101010 1111111101 11011111110 1011000111 11110101100 1011111101 111101101110 1101010101
  • Amount of stanzas: 6
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 180
  • Average number of words per stanza: 34
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 44 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • 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.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; thy is repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same word why is repeated.

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

  • summary of The Dying Child;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Hans Christian Andersen