Analysis of Elijah Fed By Ravens
John Newton 1725 (Wapping, London) – 1807 (London)
Elijah's example declares,
Whatever distress may betide;
The saints may commit all their cares
To him who will surely provide:
When rain long withheld from the earth
Occasioned a famine of bread;
The prophet, secure from the dearth,
By ravens was constantly fed.
More likely to rob than to feed,
Were ravens who live upon prey;
But when the Lord's people have need,
His goodness will find out a way:
This instance to those may seem strange,
Who know not how faith can prevail;
But sooner all nature shall change,
Than one of God's promises fail.
Nor is it a singular case,
The wonder is often renewed;
And many can say, to his praise,
He sends them by ravens their food:
Thus worldlings, though ravens indeed,
Though greedy and selfish their mind,
If God has a servant to feed,
Against their own wills can be kind.
Thus Satan, that raven unclean,
Who croaks in the ears of the saints;
Compelled by a power unseen,
Administers oft to their wants:
God teaches them how to find food
From all the temptations they feel;
This raven, who thirsts for my blood,
Has helped me to many a meal.
How safe and how happy are they
Who on the good Shepherd rely!
He gives them out strength for their day,
Their wants he will surely supply:
He ravens and lions can tame,
All creatures obey his command;
Then let me rejoice in his name,
And leave all my cares in his hand.
Scheme | ABABCDCD EFEFGHGH XIXIEJEJ KXKXILXL FMFMNONO |
---|---|
Poetic Form | Etheree (30%) Tetractys (20%) |
Metre | 101001 1001101 01101111 11111001 11101101 01001011 01001101 11011001 11011111 01011011 11011011 11011101 11011111 11111101 11011011 11111001 11101001 01011001 01011111 11111011 1111001 11001011 11101011 01111111 11011001 11001101 01101001 01001111 11011111 11001011 11011111 11111001 11011011 11011001 11111111 11111001 11001011 11001101 11101011 01111011 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 1,327 |
Words | 251 |
Sentences | 7 |
Stanzas | 5 |
Stanza Lengths | 8, 8, 8, 8, 8 |
Lines Amount | 40 |
Letters per line (avg) | 27 |
Words per line (avg) | 6 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 212 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 50 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:16 min read
- 75 Views
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"Elijah Fed By Ravens" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 13 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/23933/elijah-fed-by-ravens>.
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