This is an analysis of the poem An Elegy that begins with:

Relentless Death! - ah! why so soon
Cut down the flow'ret fair to view!...

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 caca dede efef acac eaea eaeX
  • 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: 01011111 11010101 11010101 11010101 01010111 01100111 110101011 1100101011 11010101 111100111 11011101 11010101 11100111 111111001 01011101 01010111 11101101 11010101 11010101 1101001001 10110111 100111010 11110001 010101010 11110101 11011101 11110111 110010111
  • Amount of stanzas: 7
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 157
  • Average number of words per stanza: 26
  • Amount of lines: 28
  • Average number of symbols per line: 39 (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.

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

  • summary of An Elegy;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Hector Macneill