This is an analysis of the poem My Father He Was A Fisherman that begins with:

MY father he was a fisherman,
That wrought at the break o' day, ... 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: abab aXab aXaX cXcb dXdX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 110110101 1110111 1101100111 10111 111110111 111110011 0110111101 01001 111100111 1001111 101100101 111011 10011111 11111111 1101111101 01101 1111011111 1111111 1011101101 101101
  • Amount of stanzas: 5
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 141
  • Average number of words per stanza: 29
  • Amount of lines: 20
  • Average number of symbols per line: 35 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The speaker asks many questions. Perhaps, he or she is in confusion.

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

    The author used the same word 'what at the beginnings of some neighboring stanzas. The figure of speech is a kind of anaphora.

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

  • summary of My Father He Was A Fisherman;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Marjorie Lowry Christie Pickthall