This is an analysis of the poem Request that begins with:

Sing me a song--a song to ease old sorrows,
And dull the edge of care--...

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: ABXB cccc cdcX cece XfXf gdge ABXB
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11010101110 110101 01010111010 1011 01011110010 111011 11111101010 1101 11111101010 110100 11110011010 0100 11010110110 110111 11110101110 0111 01011101110 110101 10010100010 0101 11110101110 110100 0111011010 1101 11010101110 110101 01010111010 1011
  • Amount of stanzas: 7
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 137
  • Average number of words per stanza: 27
  • Amount of lines: 28
  • Average number of symbols per line: 34 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

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

  • summary of Request;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Virna Sheard