Valediction by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: poem analysis

This is an analysis of the poem Valediction that begins with:

I ONCE was fond of fools,
And bid them come each day;...

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: a ba bc bc bd ed eX fa f d gd Xh ih ij gj gXaXgg
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 1,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,6,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 111101 110111 111101 010001 0101110 010001 0111010 010111 111111 1101110 011101 1101110 11101110 1010010 111101 1111010 111100 110111 110001 111001100 1010100110 101101 10100110 111111 0101110 110101 1111010 110111 11111100 111101 111111 110101
  • Amount of stanzas: 17
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 53
  • Average number of words per stanza: 10
  • Amount of lines: 32
  • Average number of symbols per line: 28 (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; to is repeated.

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

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

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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