This is an analysis of the poem The Figure-Head that begins with:

The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped,
(Named from the carven pair at prow)... 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: ababb cbcbb dedece
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 5,5,6,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 010110101 10010111 11110101 11110111 10110111 11011101 11011111 1011101 10111111 1010100101 11010101 01011111 01111101 11010111 101011011 1
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 184
  • Average number of words per stanza: 36
  • Amount of lines: 16
  • Average number of symbols per line: 34 (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 is repeated.

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

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

  • summary of The Figure-Head;
  • 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