This is an analysis of the poem On Virtue that begins with:

O Thou bright jewel in my aim I strive
To comprehend thee. Thine own words declare...

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: abXXcbccddcXeaeXdfXff
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 21,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 1111001111 0101111101 1001010111 1101011101 11101110101 1111110001 1001110101 11011101011 1101110010 1111010101 0101110101 1101010001 1101010101 0101000101 0111011100 1111001101 1111010111 10110111111 01111010101 1101010101 1110001000101
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 922
  • Average number of words per stanza: 166
  • Amount of lines: 21
  • Average number of symbols per line: 43 (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; her is repeated.

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

  • summary of On Virtue;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Phillis Wheatley