This is an analysis of the poem Robert Gould Shaw that begins with:

Why was it that the thunder voice of Fate
Should call thee, studious, from the classic groves,...

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: abXaabba acacac
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,6,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: sonnet with iambic pentameter or irregular meter
  • Metre: 1101010101 11110000101 11110011110 1111011001 1111011101 1111011101 01110001011 0101110101 1100110101 0111000101 1011000101 0110000101 1111101111 1100110101
  • Amount of stanzas: 2
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 316
  • Average number of words per stanza: 58
  • Amount of lines: 14
  • Average number of symbols per line: 44 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • 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; and, of are repeated.

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

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

  • summary of Robert Gould Shaw;
  • 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