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

Ashes to ashes, dust unto dust,
What of his loving, what of his lust?...

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: AabcbcdddaaA
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 12,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 100101101 100101001 100101001 1001001001 1011011101 1011011001 1101011111 1101011100 1101011001 1011111011 101101011 100101101
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 491
  • Average number of words per stanza: 95
  • Amount of lines: 12
  • Average number of symbols per line: 40 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • Mood of the speaker:

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

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; what, of, his, he are repeated.

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

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

  • summary of Mortality;
  • 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