This is an analysis of the poem An Old Man that begins with:

Looking upon this tree with its quaint pretension
Of holding the earth, a leveret, in its claws,...

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: abXbbaaX ccXXaX Xb
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,6,2,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: rondeau
  • Metre: 100101001010 010010100001 11001000101 0111010100 1101101101 0111001101 010010101110 1001010001 11011110111 01010011001 1001010011101 010010001 010001001010 01010001001 01011010
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 215
  • Average number of words per stanza: 39
  • Amount of lines: 16
  • Average number of symbols per line: 40 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

  • summary of An Old Man;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Ronald Stuart Thomas