This is an analysis of the poem Shiloh - A Requiem that begins with:

Skimming lightly, wheeling still,
The swallows fly low... 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: XaXbccddbcceeXeXaXb
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 19,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1010101 01011 10010101 0101010 10011101 100011101 10101 1100111 0101010 01110111 1100100101 11001 01010101 10111111 1110111 110101100 11111 11000101 1101110
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 599
  • Average number of words per stanza: 106
  • Amount of lines: 19
  • Average number of symbols per line: 31 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

  • summary of Shiloh - A Requiem;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Herman Melville