This is an analysis of the poem Words Heard, By Accident, Over The Phone that begins with:

O mud, mud, how fluid! —-
Thick as foreign coffee, and with a sluggy pulse....

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: aXbXc cadXXX bdddX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 5,6,5,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 111110 111010100101 11100 0001011001000 00111011100 111111 111011 111111010110 111010010110111010 100 011 1010100100 010100 1011010111101 110110 111111111
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 192
  • Average number of words per stanza: 36
  • Amount of lines: 16
  • Average number of symbols per line: 35 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

    There are many exclamation marks in the poem. The speaker is excited. He or she has strong feelings on the subject that is described in the poem.

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

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

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

    The literary device anadiplosis is detected in two or more neighboring lines. The word/phrase it connects the lines.

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

  • summary of Words Heard, By Accident, Over The Phone;
  • 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