Analysis of Rice Pudding

Alan Alexander Milne

What is the matter with Mary Jane?
She's crying with all her might and main,
And she won't eat her dinner - rice pudding again -
What is the matter with Mary Jane?

What is the matter with Mary Jane?
I've promised her dolls and a daisy-chain,
And a book about animals - all in vain -
What is the matter with Mary Jane?

What is the matter with Mary Jane?
She's perfectly well, and she hasn't a pain;
But, look at her, now she's beginning again! -
What is the matter with Mary Jane?

What is the matter with Mary Jane?
I've promised her sweets and a ride in the train,
And I've begged her to stop for a bit and explain -
What is the matter with Mary Jane?

What is the matter with Mary Jane?
She's perfectly well and she hasn't a pain,
And it's lovely rice pudding for dinner again!
What is the matter with Mary Jane?

Scheme AaaA AaaA AAaA AaaA AAaA
Poetic Form
Metre 110101101 110110101 011101011001 110101101 110101101 1100100101 00101100101 110101101 110101101 11001011001 11101101001 110101101 110101101 11001001001 011011101001 110101101 110101101 11001011001 011011011001 110101101
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 801
Words 163
Sentences 13
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 20
Letters per line (avg) 31
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 123
Words per stanza (avg) 32
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 27, 2023

52 sec read
186

Alan Alexander Milne

Alan Alexander Milne was an English author, best known for his books about the teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh and for various poems. Milne was a noted writer, primarily as a playwright, before the huge success of Pooh overshadowed all his previous work. more…

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