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

As late I journey'd o'er the extensive plain
Where native Otter sports his scanty stream,... 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: abab cdcd eefeff
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,6,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: Shakespearean sonnet
  • Metre: 111101000101 1101010101 1001010101 01001011001 11001010011 1111011101 10001010001 11110111001 1011111101 1101011101 1101011101 111111010001 1111110001 1101010100101
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 211
  • Average number of words per stanza: 36
  • Amount of lines: 14
  • Average number of symbols per line: 44 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Samuel Taylor Coleridge