This is an analysis of the poem A Losing Battle that begins with:

How can my love hold him when the other
Flaunts a gaudy lust and is lioness...

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: aXXaXX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1111111010 101011010 0011110010 1010101110 110010111 1010001
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 228
  • Average number of words per stanza: 47
  • Amount of lines: 6
  • Average number of symbols per line: 37 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • 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 Losing Battle;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Kamala Das