This is an analysis of the poem The Burnt Child that begins with:

Matches among other things that were not allowed
never would 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: XaXbXcd dbcXcc eaecXec
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 7,6,7,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: enclosed rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 100110110101 1010 10100111 110010111110 101111111 111010100110 101010101 1110111 11010 11010010 11101111 10 111101 01010111 0011001101 01111 1001010 1010000110 0010 1110111110
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 213
  • Average number of words per stanza: 41
  • Amount of lines: 20
  • Average number of symbols per line: 31 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • 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 The Burnt Child;
  • 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