Analysis of The Dead whno Died for Ireland

John Boyle O'Reilly 1844 (Dowth) – 1890 (Boston)



The dead who died for Ireland!
Oh, these are living words
To nerve the hearts of patriots —
to steel avenging swords —
They thrill the soul when spoken,
and lowly bend the head
With reverence for the memories
of all our martyred dead.

The dead who died for Ireland —
the noble ones — the best,
Who gave their lives for Motherland,
Who poured upon her breast,
In Freedom's cause, the blood she gave —
Who with their dying breath,
Sent prayers to God to heal her woes —
then sealed their love in death.

The dead who died for Ireland,
How hallowed are their graves!
With all the memories fresh and green,
Oh! how could we be slaves?
How could we patient clang the chain?
How could we fawn and bow?
How could we crouch like mongrels
'neath the keeper's frowning brow?

Be proud, ye men of Ireland!
Be proud of those who died;
Never men o'er all the earth
Had greater cause for pride —
Hope and strive, and league for freedom,
And again the souls will rise
Of the dead who died for Ireland
To cheer you to the prize.


Scheme Abxxxcxc Adxdxexe Afxfxgbg ahxhxiai
Poetic Form
Metre 01111100 111101 11011100 110101 1101110 010101 110010100 1110101 01111100 010101 1111110 110101 01010111 111101 11111101 111101 01111100 110111 110100101 111111 11110101 111101 111111 101101 11111100 111111 10110101 110111 10101110 0010111 101111100 111101
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,001
Words 196
Sentences 12
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8, 8
Lines Amount 32
Letters per line (avg) 24
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 196
Words per stanza (avg) 49
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 16, 2023

59 sec read
128

John Boyle O'Reilly

John Boyle O'Reilly was an Irish-born poet, journalist and fiction writer. more…

All John Boyle O'Reilly poems | John Boyle O'Reilly Books

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