This is an analysis of the poem The Distant Drum that begins with:

Republicans! the time is coming!
Listen to the distant drumming!... 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: aaab aXab cccd eeed ffffXaaaf
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,9,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rondeau rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 010001010 10001010 10001010 0010101 11101010 11111100 00100010 0011111 10101111 10001011 10101111 1111111 101001110 10111010 10111010 01101001 11101010 1011101 11011111 1011111 11111010 11111010 01101110 1011011
  • Amount of stanzas: 6
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 133
  • Average number of words per stanza: 25
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 33 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • 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 author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; to, you, your are repeated.

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

    The author used the same word let at the beginnings of some neighboring stanzas. The figure of speech is a kind of anaphora.

    There is a poetic device epiphora at the end of some neighboring lines you is repeated).

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Henry Lawson