This is an analysis of the poem Buttons that begins with:

I have been watching the war map slammed up for advertising in front of the newspaper office.
Buttons—red and yellow buttons—blue and black...

Elements of the verse: questions and answers

The information we provided is prepared by means of a special computer program. Use the criteria sheet to understand greatest poems or improve your poetry analysis essay.

  • Rhyme scheme: aX XXbb Xaa
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 2,4,3,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 110100111111010010011010 1011101011110111110101 0101110010 10101010110001 111001010111 1100101000110111 110111111100011010101 10011011011001011 111101011101110111010011010101011101001
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 242
  • Average number of words per stanza: 45
  • Amount of lines: 9
  • Average number of symbols per line: 80 (very long strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 15
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; and, buttons, button are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same word and is repeated.

    There is a poetic device epiphora at the end of some neighboring lines west is repeated).

If you write a school or university poetry essay, you should Include in your explanation of the poem:

  • summary of Buttons;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Carl Sandburg