This is an analysis of the poem Self-Reliance that begins with:

Though savage force and subtle schemes,
And alien rule, through ages lasting,...

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: ababcacXbabd efefghgheded fdfdcbcbadad ehehififjdjd
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 12,12,12,12,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: shakespearean sonnet
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11011101 1100111010 11111101 011111010 11110101 111100011 11110101 1111010010 01110101 011101010 01110101 010101010 11111111 110111010 11111111 010101010 11111101 111111010 01011101 1111000110 01011101 010111010 100111101 010101010 11110101 0100111010 01011001 1101010100 11010101 1111010010 11010111 111101010 11011111 110001010 11110101 110101010 11011101 0101011010 01011101 010111010 01011101 0100001010 01010101 010101010 11010101 0101001010 11011101 111101010
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 447
  • Average number of words per stanza: 78
  • Amount of lines: 48
  • Average number of symbols per line: 36 (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 author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; and, in, man, your, oh, or are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words the, oh, in are repeated.

    The author used the same word though at the beginnings of some neighboring stanzas. The figure of speech is a kind of anaphora.

    The poet repeated the same word reliance 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 Self-Reliance;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Thomas Davis