This is an analysis of the poem Sestina Otiosa that begins with:

Our great work, the Otia Merseiana,
Edited by learned Mister Sampson, ... 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: Xabcde eXdacb becXad dbaeXc cdXbea acedbX beX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,6,6,6,6,6,3,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 111010100 100111010 1010101011 01111001010 1000111010 0010101010 10100101010 001010100 1011101010 1000111010 0001101010 1010101011 1010101011 11010001010 1110101010 001010100 1010111010 0010101010 1010101010 1010101011 1010101010 1010001010 101010100 1110101010 10011101010 1000111010 001010100 10010101011 1011101010 1000101010 1110001010 1011001010 10100101010 1000111010 0011101011 100010100 1010101011 1010111010 101010100
  • Amount of stanzas: 7
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 220
  • Average number of words per stanza: 34
  • Amount of lines: 39
  • Average number of symbols per line: 39 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

    There is a poetic device epiphora at the end of some neighboring lines business, woodward, meyer, meetings, sampson are repeated).

    The poet repeated the same word merseiana 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 Sestina Otiosa;
  • 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 Walter Raleigh