This is an analysis of the poem The Penalty that begins with:

Once in life I watched a Star;
But I whistled, "Let her go!... 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: ababcd efefcd gcgccc
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,6,6,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1011101 11101001 1110101 11100111 1111011 1010100 1000101 1110101 1010100 1011111 1111101 0110100 11100101 1011111 1011101 1111101 1111111 1111111
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 182
  • Average number of words per stanza: 35
  • Amount of lines: 18
  • Average number of symbols per line: 30 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • 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; i is repeated.

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

    The poet repeated the same word penalty 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 The Penalty;
  • 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