This is an analysis of the poem Dance-Hall Girls that begins with:

Where are the dames I used to know
In Dawson in the days of yore?...

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: abaXabab cdcdcecX fgfgbaba ehehigiig
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,8,8,9,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: ballad stanza
  • Metre: 11011101 01000101 01010001 11111101000 01010101 01010101 11010101 11010101 11111101 10011101 1100011 01010101 11010101 11011101 11011101 1101011 11001101 11111111 11000101 11010101 11010001 11011101 11010111 01011101 01111111 11010001 01010011 11001101 01110111 11110101 11011111 11010101 11111101
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 274
  • Average number of words per stanza: 53
  • Amount of lines: 33
  • Average number of symbols per line: 32 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • 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; in, or, of are repeated.

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

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

  • summary of Dance-Hall Girls;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Robert William Service