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

The free fair life that has never been mine, the glory that might have been,
If I were what you seem to be and what I may not be !... 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: abaX bXbX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 01111110010101110 01011100111110 111101011010101 110111011111100 01011101010101 11100101011101 101010010111111011 111111111111011
  • Amount of stanzas: 2
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 252
  • Average number of words per stanza: 53
  • Amount of lines: 8
  • Average number of symbols per line: 62 (very long strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 13
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; i, and, that are repeated.

    The author used the same word the 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 Tess;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Isaac Rosenberg