This is an analysis of the poem To A Stranger that begins with:

PASSING stranger! you do not know how longingly I look upon you,
You must be he I was seeking, or she I was seeking, (it comes to me,... full text

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: abXaXXbXXacXccX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 15,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: rondeau
  • Metre: 10101111110011011 110111101111100101 1001 1111101010101 10011111110100100 101 111010010110101 1101110111010111 1011110110 111010011111111 101111001 1110101110101111011 11101 110111111101101 1101001111111
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 841
  • Average number of words per stanza: 163
  • Amount of lines: 15
  • Average number of symbols per line: 55 (very long strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 11
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; i, you, with, me, to, of are repeated.

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

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

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

  • summary of To A Stranger;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Walt Whitman