This is an analysis of the poem The Old Days that begins with:

The old days--the far days--
The overdear and fair!--... 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: abACdaaa XdddXaea aeXeXbAC
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,8,8,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 011011 010011 011011 11010 011010 00111010 1101110 011101 11011 11101 11011 11101 1110101 10101 11101000 0011 11011 01101 11011 1111 11011 1101 011011 11010
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 210
  • Average number of words per stanza: 39
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 25 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 5
  • 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; days, of are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words the, would are repeated.

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

  • summary of The Old Days;
  • 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