This is an analysis of the poem Holy Sonnet Ix: If Poisonous Minerals, And If That Tree that begins with:

If poisonous minerals, and if that tree
Whose fruit threw death on else immortal us,... 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: abbaabbaaccXdd
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 14,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: sonnet with iambic pentameter or irregular meter
  • Metre: 01001001011 1111110101 01001010100 1001011110 1101110101 1111001110 11010101100 0100111101 1111110101 1110110101 11110100101 1100111100 1101001111 1101001101
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 579
  • Average number of words per stanza: 109
  • Amount of lines: 14
  • Average number of symbols per line: 40 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • 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; if, in are repeated.

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

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

  • summary of Holy Sonnet Ix: If Poisonous Minerals, And If That Tree;
  • 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