This is an analysis of the poem The Way To Wait that begins with:

O WHETHER by the lonesome road that lies across the lea
Or whether by the hill that stoops, rock-shadowed, to the sea,... 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: aaa bbb ccc ddd
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 3,3,3,3,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11010101110101 11010111110001 11011101110101 11010011011111 11010011010101 11011101010111 11111101111101 11110111111100 11010101110101 11010101110111 11110101110101 11110101110101
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 176
  • Average number of words per stanza: 37
  • Amount of lines: 12
  • Average number of symbols per line: 58 (very long strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 12
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; by, that, to, my, come, not are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words or, no are repeated.

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

  • summary of The Way To Wait;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Isabel Ecclestone Mackay