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

By the roots of my hair some god got hold of me.
I sizzled in his blue volts like a desert prophet....

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: ab cbXac
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 2,5,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 101011111101 1100011101010 011101101011 0101110010010 01001011001 0101111110
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 95
  • Average number of words per stanza: 20
  • Amount of lines: 6
  • Average number of symbols per line: 47 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 10
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Sylvia Plath