This is an analysis of the poem A Maid Who Died Old that begins with:

Frail, shrunken face, so pinched and worn,
That life has carved with care and doubt!... 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: ababab cdcdcd efefef egegeg
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,6,6,6,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11011111 11110111 11010111 11110101 11110001 01111101 11111111 11010101 110011111 11011101 11011101 01010101 11110111 11010111 11011111 01010101 11110101 01110100 11010101 11000111 11011111 11011111 11010101 11111111
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 215
  • Average number of words per stanza: 39
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 35 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    There are many exclamation marks in the poem. The speaker is excited. He or she has strong feelings on the subject that is described in the poem.

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

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

  • summary of A Maid Who Died Old;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Madison Julius Cawein