This is an analysis of the poem To A Lady Of Quality, Fitting Up Her Library that begins with:

Ah! what is science, what is art,
Or what the pleasure these impart?... 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 bbcc ccdd eedd ffgg hhii ccddXeedd
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,4,9,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11010101 11010101 11010101 11010101 110100101 01010011 11011101 11011101 11010101 01110101 11110101 01110101 01010101 01010101 110101010 010101010 10010101 01010101 100100111 01010101 11100111 11011111 11110111 11010111 111001101 11110101 11010101 01010101 111100101 11010111 11010101 110011101
  • Amount of stanzas: 8
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 144
  • Average number of words per stanza: 25
  • Amount of lines: 32
  • Average number of symbols per line: 35 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The speaker asks many questions. Perhaps, he or she is in confusion.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; what, why are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same word why is repeated.

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

  • summary of To A Lady Of Quality, Fitting Up Her Library;
  • 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