This is an analysis of the poem His Mother that begins with:

DEAD! my wayward boy--_my own_--
Not _the Law's!_ but _mine_--the good... 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: abab cXca dXdX efef
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1110111 1011100 1110101 1001101 1111101 10101010 1110101 10111 1110101 0111100 1010101 1110101 1011101 1010101 1111111 01111
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 118
  • Average number of words per stanza: 23
  • Amount of lines: 16
  • Average number of symbols per line: 29 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    There are many exclamation marks in the poem. The speaker is excited. He or she has strong feelings on the subject that is described in the poem.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; you is repeated.

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by James Whitcomb Riley