This is an analysis of the poem Olney Hymn 48: Joy And Peace In Believing that begins with:

Sometimes a light surprises
The Christian while he sings; ... 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: aaaabcbc cdcdefef bdbdagag hihibjbj
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,8,8,8,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 0101010 010111 0001110 010101 1101010 110101 0100110 010101 0101010 110101 0101010 110101 1100110 110011 101001010 100101 0110010 110111 1101010 010101 0101010 110101 1111010 010101 1111110 110111 1101110 111101 1101010 011111 1101010 110101
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 229
  • Average number of words per stanza: 41
  • Amount of lines: 32
  • Average number of symbols per line: 28 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 5
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; nor is repeated.

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

  • summary of Olney Hymn 48: Joy And Peace In Believing;
  • 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