Analysis of The Fool's Epilogue

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



MANY good works I've done and ended,
Ye take the praise--I'm not offended;
For in the world, I've always thought
Each thing its true position hath sought.
When praised for foolish deeds am I,
I set off laughing heartily;
When blamed for doing something good,
I take it in an easy mood.
If some one stronger gives me hard blows,
That it's a jest, I feign to suppose:
But if 'tis one that's but my own like,
I know the way such folks to strike.
When Fortune smiles, I merry grow,
And sing in dulci jubilo;
When sinks her wheel, and tumbles me o'er,
I think 'tis sure to rise once more.

In the sunshine of summer I ne'er lament,
Because the winter it cannot prevent;
And when the white snow-flakes fall around,
I don my skates, and am off with a bound.
Though I dissemble as I will,
The sun for me will ne'er stand still;
The old and wonted course is run,
Until the whole of life is done;
Each day the servant like the lord,
In turns comes home, and goes abroad;
If proud or humble the line they take,
They all must eat, drink, sleep, and wake.
So nothing ever vexes me;
Act like the fool, and wise ye'll be!


Scheme AABBXCXXDDEEXCXX FFGGHHIIXXJJCC
Poetic Form Etheree  (27%)
Tetractys  (20%)
Metre 101111010 110111010 1001111 111101011 11110111 11110100 11110101 11101101 111101111 110111101 111111111 11011111 11011101 01011 1101010110 11111111 0011101101 0101011001 010111101 1111011101 11010111 01111111 0101111 01011111 11010101 01110101 111100111 11111101 1101011 11010111
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,084
Words 216
Sentences 8
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 16, 14
Lines Amount 30
Letters per line (avg) 28
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 420
Words per stanza (avg) 107
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:07 min read
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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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

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