This is an analysis of the poem Parting Song that begins with:

Sung by the graduating class of the Keokuk High School, May 3, 1872.
Our farewell must to-day be spoken,... 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: X ababcdcd efefghgh ibibjiji
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 1,8,8,8,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: ballad stanza
  • Metre: 110101010010011111 111101010 01111111 110111010 11011111 110000011 010010101 01010110101 11110101 1100111110 11010101 011111010 11110101 010111010 01110101 011101010 11010101 11111110 11011111 111101010 010111001 110101110 11010111 1000111010 01010100
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 244
  • Average number of words per stanza: 44
  • Amount of lines: 25
  • Average number of symbols per line: 38 (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; our is repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words and, though are repeated.

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

  • summary of Parting Song;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Kate Harrington