This is an analysis of the poem A Licentious Person that begins with:

Thy sins and hairs may no man equal call ;
For, as thy sins increase, thy hairs do fall.... 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: aa
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 2,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 1111111101 1111011111
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 88
  • Average number of words per stanza: 18
  • Amount of lines: 2
  • Average number of symbols per line: 44 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 9
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

  • summary of A Licentious Person;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by John Donne