This is an analysis of the poem The Old Stone Cross that begins with:

A STATESMAN is an easy man,
He tells his lies by rote;... 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: abXbXb BC XdaXcd BC XaaaXaXBC
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,2,6,2,9,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rondeau rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 01001101 110111 01001101 111101 111101111 110101 101001011 100111 01011011 010001 11110101 010101 01010100 111101 101001011 100111 1101010 110111 1100110 010111 11010101 10101 101001011 100111
  • Amount of stanzas: 6
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 117
  • Average number of words per stanza: 23
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 29 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

  • summary of The Old Stone Cross;
  • 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 Butler Yeats