This is an analysis of the poem The Cranes that begins with:

We thought they were gulls at first,
while they were distant-...

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: aaXXXaXX bXXcXbc
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,7,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: rondeau
  • Metre: 1110111 11010 0111010010010 1101011111 1111011001 111111 11011 1111110101 1001111100 11011100111 11111111010 01001101111 1011010101 1110101100010 11000010101
  • Amount of stanzas: 2
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 311
  • Average number of words per stanza: 57
  • Amount of lines: 15
  • Average number of symbols per line: 41 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; they, their are repeated.

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

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Anne Barbara Ridler