This is an analysis of the poem On Flaxman's Penelope that begins with:

The suitors sinned, but with a fair excuse,
Whom all this elegance might well seduce;... 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
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 0101100101 1101001101 1111010101 1101110101
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 168
  • Average number of words per stanza: 32
  • Amount of lines: 4
  • Average number of symbols per line: 41 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • 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 On Flaxman's Penelope;
  • 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