This is an analysis of the poem Exhortation To Prayer that begins with:

What various hindrances we meet
In coming to a mercy seat! ... 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: aabb ccdd aaee ffff ggbb aaXX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 110010011 01000101 11110101 11000101 11010101 11010101 11010111 110010001 01011101 11010101 11010111 01010101 11010111 01111101 11110011 11010001 11111101 11011101 111101001 00110111 01011101 010010001 110111000 1010111110
  • Amount of stanzas: 6
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 147
  • Average number of words per stanza: 25
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 36 (medium-length strings)
  • 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 Exhortation To Prayer;
  • 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 Cowper