This is an analysis of the poem When A Merry Maiden Marries that begins with:

When a merry maiden marries,
Sorrow goes and pleasure tarries;... 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: AXBBccddEeaeaeff AXBBgghXEeififhh
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 16,16,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 10101010 10111010 10010101 1011101 00111010 11101010 10011101 0010110 11101010 10101010 10010001 10010101 10010101 1011111 1110101 1110101 10101010 10111010 10010101 1011101 10111010 11101010 1000101 1110101 11101010 10101010 1010001 1010101 10001001 1010101 1010101 1010101
  • Amount of stanzas: 2
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 480
  • Average number of words per stanza: 88
  • Amount of lines: 32
  • Average number of symbols per line: 29 (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.

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

  • summary of When A Merry Maiden Marries;
  • 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 Schwenck Gilbert