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

Mild, melancholy, and sedate, he stands,
Tending another's flock upon the fields, ...

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: aaaaaaaabcbcXX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 14,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: sonnet with iambic pentameter or irregular meter
  • Metre: 1101010111 1001010101 0101110111 0111010101 0111010101 1101011111 010011010101 10000010101 1111011111 1101111001 1101010101 11010110101 100110111010 010111110000
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 654
  • Average number of words per stanza: 109
  • Amount of lines: 14
  • Average number of symbols per line: 46 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • 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; his is repeated.

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

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

  • summary of The Hottentot;
  • 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 Pringle