This is an analysis of the poem Term that begins with:

At the last minute a word is waiting
not heard that way before and not to be...

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: aXbbXabbcddcbd
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 14,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: sonnet with trochaic pentameter or irregular meter
  • Metre: 1010101010 1111011100 0101100010 1111100111 1010001010 1011000010 1101011010 1010110100 1110110101 1001000101 1010110100 1011110001 1101100101 1011110111
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 523
  • Average number of words per stanza: 99
  • Amount of lines: 14
  • Average number of symbols per line: 36 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • 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 Term;
  • 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 Stanley Merwin