This is an analysis of the poem Dead Fires that begins with:

If this is peace, this dead and leaden thing,
Then better far the hateful fret, the sting....

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: aabb ccdd
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 0001011101 1101010101 1001010101 1011 0011010101 0111010111 1001010101 1101
  • Amount of stanzas: 2
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 156
  • Average number of words per stanza: 27
  • Amount of lines: 8
  • Average number of symbols per line: 38 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

  • summary of Dead Fires;
  • 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