This is an analysis of the poem Substance Versus Shadow that begins with:

So, gentle critics, you would have me tilt,
Not at the guilty, only just at Guilt!... full text

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: aabbbbcXXXddaaeeeeffaXggaagghhXiiggjjggccc
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 42,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 1101011111 1101010111 1001010101 1111000001 11110101001 1011001101 11001110101 1001110111 1111010101 0111011111 0101010101 1111111101 1010111001 0101010101 1101010101 0101110111 1101011101 1101010111 11111101001 1101010101 1101011101 01011100101 0111000111 1111001101 0101010011 1101100001 1001001101 0111011101 1000011101 11010101101 011000101000 1011010101 0110010001 0101010101 0111010101 1011010101 0101010011 1101010011 1101110101 0101001101 0101011001 01011111011
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 1753
  • Average number of words per stanza: 318
  • Amount of lines: 42
  • Average number of symbols per line: 41 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • Mood of the speaker:

    There are many exclamation marks in the poem. The speaker is excited. He or she has strong feelings on the subject that is described in the poem.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; to is repeated.

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

  • summary of Substance Versus Shadow;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Ambrose Bierce