Analysis of The Look

Elizabeth Barrett Browning 1806 (Kelloe) – 1861 (Florence)



The Saviour looked on Peter. Ay, no word,
No gesture of reproach; the Heavens serene
Though heavy with armed justice, did not lean
Their thunders that way: the forsaken Lord
Looked only, on the traitor. None record
What that look was, none guess; for those who have seen
Wronged lovers loving through a death-pang keen,
Or pale-cheeked martyrs smiling to a sword,
Have missed Jehovah at the judgment-call.
And Peter, from the height of blasphemy--
'I never knew this man '--did quail and fall
As knowing straight THAT GOD; and turned free
And went out speechless from the face of all
And filled the silenc, weeping bitterly.


Scheme ABBCCBBCDEDEDE
Poetic Form
Metre 011110111 11010101001 1101110111 1101100101 1101010101 11111111111 1101010111 1111010101 1101010101 0101011100 1101111101 110111011 0111010111 010110100
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 619
Words 109
Sentences 5
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14
Lines Amount 14
Letters per line (avg) 35
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 492
Words per stanza (avg) 107
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 05, 2023

32 sec read
96

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Elizabeth Barrett Browning was one of the most prominent English poets of the Victorian era. more…

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