Analysis of Youth's Agitations

Matthew Arnold 1822 (Laleham) – 1888 (Liverpool)



When I shall be divorced, some ten years hence,
From this poor present self which I am now;
When youth has done its tedious vain expense
Of passions that for ever ebb and flow;

Shall I not joy youth's heats are left behind,
And breathe more happy in an even clime ?--
Ah no, for then I shall begin to find
A thousand virtues in this hated time!

Then I shall wish its agitations back,
And all its thwarting currents of desire;
Then I shall praise the heat which then I lack,
And call this hurrying fever, generous fire;

And sigh that one thing only has been lent
To youth and age in common--discontent.


Scheme AXAX BCBC DEDE FF
Poetic Form
Metre 1111011111 1111011111 11111100101 1101110101 1111111101 0111001101 1111110111 0101001101 1111111 01110101010 1111011111 0111001010010 0111110111 1101010001
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 600
Words 116
Sentences 4
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 2
Lines Amount 14
Letters per line (avg) 34
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 117
Words per stanza (avg) 29
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

35 sec read
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Matthew Arnold

Matthew Arnold was a British poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. more…

All Matthew Arnold poems | Matthew Arnold Books

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