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

IF 'twere fair to suppose
That your heart were not taken,...

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: ababcXdaeaebcd
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 14,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: shakespearean sonnet
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: sonnet with trochaic tetrameter or irregular meter
  • Metre: 011001 1110110 101001 1010110 1111 1001111111 111111010010 011001 1111110 101101 1010110 1111 111111111 010110010010
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 451
  • Average number of words per stanza: 89
  • Amount of lines: 14
  • Average number of symbols per line: 31 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; you, that are repeated.

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

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

  • summary of Suppose;
  • 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