Analysis of On The Gallows

Jonathan Swift 1667 (Dublin) – 1745 (Ireland)



There is a gate, we know full well,
That stands 'twixt Heaven, and Earth, and Hell,
Where many for a passage venture,
Yet very few are fond to enter:
Although 'tis open night and day,
They for that reason shun this way:
Both dukes and lords abhor its wood,
They can't come near it for their blood.
What other way they take to go,
Another time I'll let you know.
Yet commoners with greatest ease
Can find an entrance when they please.
The poorest hither march in state
(Or they can never pass the gate)
Like Roman generals triumphant,
And then they take a turn and jump on't,
If gravest parsons here advance,
They cannot pass before they dance;
There's not a soul that does resort here,
But strips himself to pay the porter.


Scheme AABBCCDEFFGGHHIJKKLB
Poetic Form Etheree  (30%)
Tetractys  (20%)
Metre 11011111 111100101 110101010 110111110 1110101 11110111 11010111 11111111 11011111 01011111 11001101 11110111 01010101 11110101 110100010 0111010111 11010101 11010111 110111011 110111010
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 712
Words 136
Sentences 5
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 20
Lines Amount 20
Letters per line (avg) 28
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 562
Words per stanza (avg) 134
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

42 sec read
103

Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift was an Anglo-Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer, poet and cleric who became Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. more…

All Jonathan Swift poems | Jonathan Swift Books

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