Analysis of The Eagle and the Dove

William Wordsworth 1770 (Wordsworth House) – 1850 (Cumberland)



SHADE of Caractacus, if spirits love
The cause they fought for in their earthly home
To see the Eagle ruffled by the Dove
May soothe thy memory of the chains of Rome.

These children claim thee for their sire; the breath
Of thy renown, from Cambrian mountains, fans
A flame within them that despises death
And glorifies the truant youth of Vannes.

With thy own scorn of tyrants they advance,
But truth divine has sanctified their rage,
A silver cross enchased with flowers of France
Their badge, attests the holy fight they wage.

The shrill defiance of the young crusade
Their veteran foes mock as an idle noise;
But unto Faith and Loyalty comes aid
From Heaven, gigantic force to beardless boys.


Scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH
Poetic Form Traditional rhyme
Quatrain 
Metre 1111101 0111101101 1101010101 11110010111 11011111001 11011100101 0101110101 010010111 1111110101 11011111 0101111011 1101010111 0101010101 11001111101 1101010011 1100101111
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 689
Words 124
Sentences 5
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 16
Letters per line (avg) 35
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 140
Words per stanza (avg) 31
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 07, 2023

37 sec read
128

William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth was the husband of Eva Bartok. more…

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