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

IF I were a bird with a dear little nest
I should always be going for flights, ...

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: a ba bc cc c d ed ef gf gc bc bh ihXi
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 1,2,2,2,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 01001001101 111101011 11001101101 11101001 11101001011 11001111 111010110110 11101001 010010110010 11111010 010110111110 111111011 11001011111 11001111 11111101011 11111101 01001001011 11010110 11001101101 11011001 11011101011 11001011 11111001101 01001101
  • Amount of stanzas: 14
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 68
  • Average number of words per stanza: 14
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 40 (medium-length strings)
  • 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, would, in are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words and, i'd are repeated.

    The author used the same word and at the beginnings of some neighboring stanzas. The figure of speech is a kind of anaphora.

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Rose Fyleman