This is an analysis of the poem Catharine Plouffe that begins with:

THIS grey-haired spinster, Catharine Plouffe–
Observe her, a contrast to convent chits,... 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: abA abA abA aXA abA XbAA
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 3,3,3,3,3,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rondeau rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 01110101 0100100101 10101001001 1111101101 0010101111 01110101 100100111 11110011101 10101001001 1100101001 001011111 01110101 0100101101 01001111001 10101001001 0110101101 11110111101 01110101 10101001001
  • Amount of stanzas: 6
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 144
  • Average number of words per stanza: 25
  • Amount of lines: 19
  • Average number of symbols per line: 45 (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.

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

    The poet repeated the same word roof 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 Catharine Plouffe;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Susan Frances Harrison