Analysis of The King Of Brentford
William Makepeace Thackeray 1811 – 1863
There was a king in Brentford,—of whom no legends tell,
But who, without his glory,—could eat and sleep right well.
His Polly's cotton nightcap,—it was his crown of state,
He slept of evenings early,—and rose of mornings late.
All in a fine mud palace,—each day he took four meals,
And for a guard of honor,—a dog ran at his heels,
Sometimes, to view his kingdoms,—rode forth this monarch good,
And then a prancing jackass—he royally bestrode.
There were no costly habits—with which this king was curst,
Except (and where's the harm on't?)—a somewhat lively thirst;
But people must pay taxes,—and kings must have their sport,
So out of every gallon—His Grace he took a quart.
He pleased the ladies round him,—with manners soft and bland;
With reason good, they named him,—the father of his land.
Each year his mighty armies—marched forth in gallant show;
Their enemies were targets—their bullets they were tow.
He vexed no quiet neighbor,—no useless conquest made,
But by the laws of pleasure,—his peaceful realm he swayed.
And in the years he reigned,—through all this country wide,
There was no cause for weeping,—save when the good man died.
The faithful men of Brentford,—do still their king deplore,
His portrait yet is swinging,— beside an alehouse door.
And topers, tender-hearted,—regard his honest phiz,
And envy times departed—that knew a reign like his.
Scheme | AABB CCXX BXDD EEFF GGHH IICX |
---|---|
Poetic Form | Quatrain (83%) |
Metre | 110101111101 1101110110111 110101111111 1111010011101 1001110111111 0101110011111 011111011111 010101110001 1011010111111 01010111011101 1101110011111 11110010111101 1101011110101 1101111010111 1111010110101 1100010110101 1111010110101 1101110110111 000111111101 1111110110111 010111111101 110111001111 011010011101 0101010110111 |
Closest metre | Iambic heptameter |
Characters | 1,397 |
Words | 244 |
Sentences | 12 |
Stanzas | 6 |
Stanza Lengths | 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4 |
Lines Amount | 24 |
Letters per line (avg) | 44 |
Words per line (avg) | 9 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 178 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 37 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:14 min read
- 57 Views
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