This is an analysis of the poem The Better Part that begins with:

Long fed on boundless hopes, O race of man,
How angrily thou spurn'st all simpler fare!... 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: abbaXbXXcccccX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 14,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: enclosed rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: sonnet with iambic pentameter or irregular meter
  • Metre: 1111011101 11001111001 1111110111 11110101101 1111111111 11111100111 01110011110 11110110101 11001111101 1111011011 11110101101 1101010101 1101111111 0111101111
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 646
  • Average number of words per stanza: 130
  • 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:

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

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

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

  • summary of The Better Part;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Matthew Arnold