This is an analysis of the poem Cupid In Ambush that begins with:

It oft to many has successful been
Upon his arm to let his mistress lean,... 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: aabbccddeebbddbb
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 16,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: heroic couplets
  • Metre: 0101010100 0101010101 1001010101 1101011101 11010101010 01010010010 10101010101 0101100101 1101110101 0101110001 1010010101 1101110001 1101010101 1100010101 1001111101 1001111101
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 667
  • Average number of words per stanza: 120
  • Amount of lines: 16
  • Average number of symbols per line: 41 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; her, or, to, and, his, he are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same word or is repeated.

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

  • summary of Cupid In Ambush;
  • 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 Prior