This is an analysis of the poem The Wreck Of The Steamer London that begins with:

'Twas in the year of 1866, and on a very beautiful day,
That eighty-two passengers, with spirits light and gay,... 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:
  • Stanza lengths (in strings):
  • Closest metre:
  • Сlosest rhyme:
  • Сlosest stanza type:
  • Guessed form:
  • Metre:
  • Amount of stanzas: 9
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 421
  • Average number of words per stanza: 76
  • Amount of lines: 77
  • Average number of symbols per line: 48 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 9
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

    The author used the same word 'twas at the beginnings of some neighboring stanzas. The figure of speech is a kind of anaphora.

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

  • summary of The Wreck Of The Steamer London;
  • 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 Topaz McGonagall