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

As after noon, one summer's day,
Venus stood bathing in a river; ... 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 cdcd XbXb eaed
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: ballad stanza
  • Metre: 11011101 101100010 10010111 110111010 01110101 01010111 10010101 01110101 11110101 110111110 01111100 110111110 11010111 011010111 01110101 11111101
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 145
  • Average number of words per stanza: 26
  • Amount of lines: 16
  • Average number of symbols per line: 36 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • 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; his is repeated.

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

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

  • summary of Cupid Mistaken;
  • 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