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

Our game was his but yesteryear;
We wished him back; we could not know ... 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 eXeX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: ballad stanza
  • Metre: 11101101 11111111 011101111 11011101 11011101 11011101 01010101 10110111 1010111011 1010111010 11010111 11011111
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 149
  • Average number of words per stanza: 28
  • Amount of lines: 12
  • Average number of symbols per line: 37 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; we is repeated.

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Sir Henry Newbolt