Analysis of The Exchange

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1749 (Frankfurt) – 1832 (Weimar)



THE stones in the streamlet I make my bright pillow,
And open my arms to the swift-rolling billow,

That lovingly hastens to fall on my breast.
Then fickleness soon bids it onwards be flowing;
A second draws nigh, its caresses bestowing,--

And so by a twofold enjoyment I'm blest.

And yet thou art trailing in sorrow and sadness
The moments that life, as it flies, gave for gladness,

Because by thy love thou'rt remember'd no more!
Oh, call back to mind former days and their blisses!
The lips of the second will give as sweet kisses

As any the lips of the first gave before!


Scheme AA BCC B DD EDX E
Poetic Form
Metre 01001111110 010111011010 11001011111 110011110110 010111010010 01101101011 011110010010 01011111111 01111101011 11111101011 011010111110 11001101101
Closest metre Iambic hexameter
Characters 571
Words 108
Sentences 6
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1
Lines Amount 12
Letters per line (avg) 38
Words per line (avg) 9
Letters per stanza (avg) 75
Words per stanza (avg) 18
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

33 sec read
84

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer and politician. more…

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