This is an analysis of the poem A Little Old Maid that begins with:

She grew, like other girls and flowers,
Sheltered and tended daintily; ... 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: aXaX bcbc Xdcd ecec XbXb cfcf dgdg
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: ballad stanza
  • Metre: 111101110 10110100 110111010 01110100 11010111 01010111 11111101 01110101 001100100 11111111 11010111 01010101 11110101 11001101 10010101 11011101 01010110 11110101 01010101 01100101 11011110 10010101 11000111 100111000 110010101 11010111 01111101 11010101
  • Amount of stanzas: 7
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 146
  • Average number of words per stanza: 27
  • Amount of lines: 28
  • Average number of symbols per line: 36 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; and, her, of are repeated.

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

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

  • summary of A Little Old Maid;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Harriet Monroe