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

Smokey the Bear heads
into the autumn woods...

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: aaba cX abadd Xdee Xc
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,2,5,4,2,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 10011 000101 00110101 10101010 010101 1001010 0111 10011 10101 0101 1000010 1010010 100010 01110 01110 1010010 10010010
  • Amount of stanzas: 5
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 80
  • Average number of words per stanza: 15
  • Amount of lines: 17
  • Average number of symbols per line: 23 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 4
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Billy Collins