This is an analysis of the poem Summum Bonum that begins with:

Waiting on Him who knows us and our need,
Most need have we to dare not, nor desire, ... 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: abXaaXba cXddcX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,6,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: sonnet with trochaic pentameter or irregular meter
  • Metre: 1011111111 11110111010 1111010010 01010101001 1001111101 1101000101 01110011010 1111100101 1001111101 01010101010 01011110011 1001000101 1111110100 111110011100
  • Amount of stanzas: 2
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 320
  • Average number of words per stanza: 60
  • Amount of lines: 14
  • Average number of symbols per line: 45 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 9
  • 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.

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

  • summary of Summum Bonum;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Louise Imogen Guiney