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

Have you forgotten yet?...
For the world's events have rumbled on since those gagged days,...

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: AbbccXXAa XXddeX feefggXAa
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 9,6,9,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 110101 1010111011111 1101110100101 10101011110111 110011001110110001 101101010101 1010101110101 110101 1111101001111001 1101001111010110 01111101111111100 1101001101 010100100111 11101011100101 11101111011001010 110101100101001 101001010111111 11110111010011 1101001010101 010111011101 100111011111 110101 11111010001111001
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 322
  • Average number of words per stanza: 61
  • Amount of lines: 23
  • Average number of symbols per line: 55 (very long strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 11
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The speaker asks many questions. Perhaps, he or she is in confusion.

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

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

    The author used the same word do 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 Aftermath;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Siegfried Sassoon