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

An Elf sat on a twig,
He was not very big,... 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: aabbcc ddeebCfbfcggCece bbhih ffjij
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,16,5,5,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 111101 111101 110101 101101 11110101 110111 11 11010 110011 011111 11011 010010 11001 01001 11011 010010 01010 01010 010010 11101 111110 11011 0111001 011111 0101001 1101001 011001 10101001 10101 110001 110101111 1101101
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 192
  • Average number of words per stanza: 39
  • Amount of lines: 32
  • Average number of symbols per line: 23 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 5
  • 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; he, you are repeated.

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

    There is a poetic device epiphora at the end of some neighboring lines you is repeated).

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

  • summary of The Elf Singing;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by William Allingham