This is an analysis of the poem A Pastoral Ballad I: Absence that begins with:

Arbusta humilesque myricæ. Virg.
... 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: X ababacacdX defXfXgfgf aeaefefecf cfhihihfhf afaXeheh
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 1,10,10,10,10,8,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: ballad stanza
  • Metre: 100100101 11011011 11101001 11001001 11011001 01101101 11001111 11111011 111111001 111100011 0010011010 100001101 101011101 11111001 101011001 01111101 1111110100 110100101 11011011 111111111 011001111 1110010111 011111101 11111111 111111011 11111001 110110001 11011001 111101011 11111001 01011001 01100111 111001001 11011001 11011111 111101101 101111101 11111001 11111001 11011101 11111101 01011011 01011101 011101001 01011010 11001001 111101011 11001011 111001011
  • Amount of stanzas: 6
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 292
  • Average number of words per stanza: 57
  • Amount of lines: 52
  • Average number of symbols per line: 33 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

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

  • summary of A Pastoral Ballad I: Absence;
  • 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 Shenstone