This is an analysis of the poem Recessional (A Victorian Ode) that begins with:

God of our fathers, known of old --
Lord of our far-flung battle line --... full text

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: ababCC XcdcCC XXXXcC dXdXCC cacaaab Xb
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,6,6,6,7,2,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: ballad stanza
  • Metre: 10110101 10111101 01110111 01010111 11010011 11011101 01010101 01010101 11110101 11010011 11010011 11011101 11110101 111101010 11110101 01010011 10010111 11011101 010101011 11111101 11010111 11010101 11010011 11011101 11011101 01011101 11011111 11011101 11011101 11011101 01 0100010
  • Amount of stanzas: 6
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 189
  • Average number of words per stanza: 33
  • Amount of lines: 33
  • Average number of symbols per line: 33 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    There are many exclamation marks in the poem. The speaker is excited. He or she has strong feelings on the subject that is described in the poem.

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

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

    The poet repeated the same word forget at the end of some neighboring stanzas. The poetic device is a kind of epiphora.

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

  • summary of Recessional (A Victorian Ode);
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Rudyard Kipling