This is an analysis of the poem For Christmas Day, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing that begins with:

Hark! the herald Angels sing,
Glory to the new-born King,... 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: AAbbAAccddAAbbddAAeXffAAggccAA eehhAA
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 30,6,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1010101 1000111 1111101 1110101 1010101 1000111 1011101 1010001 00110101 1010101 1010101 1000111 11101001 1010101 1010111 1100101 1010101 1000111 1010111 10010100 1110101 101100 1010101 1000111 10101101 1010100 1110111 10010001 1010101 1000111 1110101 1111111 1010101 1010101 1010101 1000111
  • Amount of stanzas: 2
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 588
  • Average number of words per stanza: 100
  • Amount of lines: 36
  • Average number of symbols per line: 32 (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; born, to are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words christ, hail, born are repeated.

    The poet repeated the same word king at the end of some neighboring stanzas. The poetic device is a kind of epiphora.

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

  • summary of For Christmas Day, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!