Analysis of Modern Love XXXI: This Golden Head
George Meredith 1828 (Portsmouth, Hampshire) – 1909 (Box Hill, Surrey)
This golden head has wit in it. I live
Again, and a far higher life, near her.
Some women like a young philosopher;
Perchance because he is diminutive.
For woman's manly god must not exceed
Proportions of the natural nursing size.
Great poets and great sages draw no prize
With women: but the little lap-dog breed,
Who can be hugged, or on a mantel-piece
Perched up for adoration, these obtain
Her homage. And of this we men are vain?
Of this! 'Tis ordered for the world's increase
Small flattery! Yet she has that rare gift
To beauty, Common Sense. I am approved.
It is not half so nice as being loved,
And yet I do prefer it. What's my drift?
Scheme | ABBCDEEDFGGFHIJH |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 1101110111 0100110110 1101010100 0101110100 1101011101 01010100101 1100110111 1101010111 1111110101 111010101 0100111111 1111010101 1100111111 1101011101 1111111101 0111011111 |
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 652 |
Words | 122 |
Sentences | 13 |
Stanzas | 1 |
Stanza Lengths | 16 |
Lines Amount | 16 |
Letters per line (avg) | 31 |
Words per line (avg) | 8 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 498 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 120 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 37 sec read
- 137 Views
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"Modern Love XXXI: This Golden Head" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/15544/modern-love-xxxi%3A-this-golden-head>.
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