Analysis of A Prouder Man Than You
Henry Lawson 1867 (Grenfell) – 1922 (Sydney)
If you fancy that your people came of better stock than mine,
If you hint of higher breeding by a word or by a sign,
If you're proud because of fortune or the clever things you do --
Then I'll play no second fiddle: I'm a prouder man than you!
If you think that your profession has the more gentility,
And that you are condescending to be seen along with me;
If you notice that I'm shabby while your clothes are spruce and new --
You have only got to hint it: I'm a prouder man than you!
If you have a swell companion when you see me on the street,
And you think that I'm too common for your toney friend to meet,
So that I, in passing closely, fail to come within your view --
Then be blind to me for ever: I'm a prouder man than you!
If your character be blameless, if your outward past be clean,
While 'tis known my antecedents are not what they should have been,
Do not risk contamination, save your name whate'er you do --
`Birds o' feather fly together': I'm a prouder bird than you!
Keep your patronage for others! Gold and station cannot hide
Friendship that can laugh at fortune, friendship that can conquer pride!
Offer this as to an equal -- let me see that you are true,
And my wall of pride is shattered: I am not so proud as you!
Scheme | AABB CCBB DDBB XXBB EEBB |
---|---|
Poetic Form | Quatrain (80%) |
Metre | 111011101110111 111110101011101 111011101010111 111110101010111 111110101010100 01110101110111 111011101111101 111011111010111 111010101111101 011111101110111 111010101110111 111111101010111 111001101110111 11110101111111 11100101111011 111010101010111 111001101010101 101111101011101 101111101111111 011111101111111 |
Closest metre | Iambic octameter |
Characters | 1,261 |
Words | 246 |
Sentences | 8 |
Stanzas | 5 |
Stanza Lengths | 4, 4, 4, 4, 4 |
Lines Amount | 20 |
Letters per line (avg) | 48 |
Words per line (avg) | 13 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 190 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 50 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:16 min read
- 133 Views
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