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
- 111 Views
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"The Fool's Epilogue" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/21820/the-fool%27s-epilogue>.
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