This is an analysis of the poem Helen that begins with:

Heaped in raven loops and masses
Over temples smooth and fair,... 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: ababbb aaaaaa XcXccc dedeee
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,6,6,6,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 10101110 1010111 11101110 1111101 1010111 101 10111010 0011001 11101110 0010101 1110111 101 10111010 0010111 11101010 1111011 1110101 101 11101110 1010111 11101010 1010111 0010101 101
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 180
  • Average number of words per stanza: 32
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 29 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 5
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; and is repeated.

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

  • summary of Helen;
  • 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