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

A KNOCK is at her door, but she is weak;
Strange dews have washed the paint streaks from her cheek;...

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: aabbccddddeeff
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 14,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: sonnet with iambic pentameter or irregular meter
  • Metre: 0101011101 1111011001 1111110101 1111010101 1101011011 11000101001 0111010111 0111111101 1101010001 1100100001 1111010101 1101000101 0101001101 110111101
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 625
  • Average number of words per stanza: 119
  • Amount of lines: 14
  • Average number of symbols per line: 44 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 9
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; her is repeated.

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

  • summary of Dead;
  • 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 Laurence Dunbar