This is an analysis of the poem Sonnet Cxxix that begins with:

The expense of spirit in a waste of shame
Is lust in action; and till action, lust... 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: ababbcbcdadaee
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 14,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: sonnet with iambic pentameter or irregular meter
  • Metre: 00101000101 0101011101 01010010101 1001110101 011101011 1101011101 1101010101 1101010101 1001100101 1101010101 0101110101 0101010101 1001111111 01010111001
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 658
  • Average number of words per stanza: 110
  • Amount of lines: 14
  • Average number of symbols per line: 46 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; of, in, and are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words is, past are repeated.

    The literary device anadiplosis is detected in two or more neighboring lines. The word/phrase mad connects the lines.

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

  • summary of Sonnet Cxxix;
  • 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 Shakespeare