Analysis of The Four Angels
Rudyard Kipling 1865 (Mumbai) – 1936 (London)
As Adam lay a-dreaming beneath the Apple Tree
The Angel of the Earth came down, and offered Earth in fee;
But Adam did not need it,
Nor the plough he would not speed it,
Singing: --"Earth and Water, Air and Fire,
What more can mortal man desire?"
(The Apple Tree's in bud)
As Adam lay a-dreaming beneath the Apple Tree
The Angel of the Waters offered all the Seas in fee;
But Adam would not take 'em,
Nor the ships he wouldn't make 'em,
Singing:--"Water, Earth and Air and Fire,
What more can mortal man desire? "
(The Apple Tree's in leaf.)
As Adam lay a-dreaming beneath the Apple Tree
The Angel of the Air he offered all the Air in fee;
But Adam did not crave it,
Nor the flight he wouldn't brave it,
Singing: --"Air and Water, Earth and Fire,
What more can mortal man desire:"
(The Apple Tree's in bloom.)
As Adam lay a-dreaming beneath the Apple Tree
The Angel of the Fire rose up and not a word said he;
But he wished a flame and made it,
And in Adam's heart he laid it,
Singing: --"Fire, Fire, burning Fire!
Stand up, and reach your heart's desire!"
(The Apple Blossom's set.)
As Adam was a-working outside of Eden-Wall,
He used the Earth, he used the Seas, he used the Air and all;
Till out of black disaster
He arose to be a master
Of Earth and Water, Air and Fire,
But never reached his heart's desire!
(The Apple Tree's cut down!)
Scheme | AabbcCx AaddcCx AabbcCx Aabbccx eeccccx |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 1101010010101 01010111010101 1101111 10111111 1010101010 111101010 010101 1101010010101 01010101010101 1101111 10111011 1010101010 111101010 010101 1101010010101 01010111010101 1101111 10111011 1010101010 111101010 010101 1101010010101 010101011010111 11101011 00101111 1010101010 110111010 01011 1101010111101 11011101110101 1111010 10111010 110101010 110111010 010111 |
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 1,315 |
Words | 265 |
Sentences | 10 |
Stanzas | 5 |
Stanza Lengths | 7, 7, 7, 7, 7 |
Lines Amount | 35 |
Letters per line (avg) | 29 |
Words per line (avg) | 7 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 200 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 51 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 15, 2023
- 1:22 min read
- 175 Views
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