What is interesting about this poem is the situational irony of it. While Dryden relentlessly lionizes Anne Killigrew, there has been a general consensus over the fact that she was essentially a writer who produced "marginal and forgettable" works.
This poem is an elegiac Pindaric ode in honor of his subject in that the poet simultaneously mourns her death and elevates her to the status of an artistic prodigy. A substantial element in this poem is the delineation of Anne Killigrew as a beautiful and innocent woman. The poet describes his subject as the "youngest virgin daughter of the skies", praising her for her innocence, and perhaps, purity.
The poet consistently uses alliteration to emphasize on certain aspects of Anne Killigrew. He also uses allusions like "music of the spheres" to create an extensively complex text.
He also says that she will atone for the sins of all profane writers. However he also says, "art she had none", contradicting the rest of the poem, but certain interpretations suggest that by art, he meant artifice, implying that she was bestowed with natural talent.
The poet also uses nature imagery to further glorify Anne Killigrew and strangely enough, stresses on her virginity time and again.Hyperbole is also used and hence while this poem is well received, it isn't taken in a literal sense.
