This is an analysis of the poem Marah that begins with:

“The song were sweeter and better
If only the thought were glad.”... 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: ababacac adadXeXe fgfghihi Xdddhchc
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,8,8,8,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 01010110 0100101 010010010 01001111 010011010 11001001 1110011010 01011001 1111111010 001001100 1111010010 01101001 110110010 11011011 1110011010 01001101 110010010 111001101 1110010110 11011011 111110011 111001011 110110011 11001011 0010011000 01001001 110111010 11011011 110110011 110011001 111110011 01011001
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 309
  • Average number of words per stanza: 57
  • Amount of lines: 32
  • Average number of symbols per line: 38 (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; of is repeated.

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Ina D. Coolbrith