This is an analysis of the poem To A Friend that begins with:

'You damn me with faint praise.'
... 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:
  • Stanza lengths (in strings):
  • Closest metre:
  • Сlosest rhyme:
  • Сlosest stanza type:
  • Guessed form:
  • Metre:
  • Amount of stanzas: 28
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 211
  • Average number of words per stanza: 37
  • Amount of lines: 141
  • Average number of symbols per line: 41 (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; to, nor, thy, his, and, you are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words let, there, nor, in, for, and are repeated.

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Joseph Rodman Drake