This is an analysis of the poem Tenebrae that begins with:

We are near, Lord,
near and at hand....

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: aa aXXa AXb baX a Xa a aa aaXAb
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 2,4,3,3,1,2,1,2,5,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rondeau rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1111 1111 100101 111011 01001010 1101 11 101 111 101111 1101 101011 00101111 01101 1111 01 0111000111 111111101101 1111 011010110011 11 111
  • Amount of stanzas: 10
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 51
  • Average number of words per stanza: 10
  • Amount of lines: 22
  • Average number of symbols per line: 22 (very short strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 5
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; it, lord, our, and are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words pray, it are repeated.

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

    There is a poetic device epiphora at the end of some neighboring lines lord is repeated).

    The poet repeated the same word lord 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 Tenebrae;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Paul Celan