This is an analysis of the poem The Prodigal Son that begins with:

Afflictions, though they seem severe;
In mercy oft are sent;... 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: abab baba caca dede fcfc gcgc dcdc hihi
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 01011101 010111 11010001 111001 11111001 111101 01010101 110111 11111111 110111 11010101 111101 11111111 110101 01000101 110101 01011101 111111 11010101 000101 10111101 110111 01111101 111111 11010101 110101 11111101 111101 11010101 011101 11010111 110111
  • Amount of stanzas: 8
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 124
  • Average number of words per stanza: 23
  • Amount of lines: 32
  • Average number of symbols per line: 30 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; his, and are repeated.

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

  • summary of The Prodigal Son;
  • 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 Newton