This is an analysis of the poem Christmas Eve In France that begins with:

OH little Christ, why do you sigh
As you look down to-night...

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: abcbXb daceaX XfcfaX daceaX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,6,6,6,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: enclosed rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11011111 111101 11011101 110101 11110111 111111 11011111 100111 01010101 101100 11011111 11100 11011111 111111 11011101 010111 11011111 1111110 11011101 110100 11011101 101100 11011111 110111
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 192
  • Average number of words per stanza: 37
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 31 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The speaker asks many questions. Perhaps, he or she is in confusion.

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

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same word what is repeated.

    The author used the same word oh at the beginnings of some neighboring stanzas. The figure of speech is a kind of anaphora.

    The poet repeated the same word ' at the end of some neighboring stanzas. The poetic device is a kind of epiphora.

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

  • summary of Christmas Eve In France;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Jessie Redmon Fauset