This is an analysis of the poem Alley Rats that begins with:

They were calling certain styles of whiskers by the name of “lilacs.”
And another manner of beard assumed in their chatter a verbal guise...

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: abb bXXba
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 3,5,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1010101010101011 101010010101100101 0101101010 100111101111011 101010101011000001 1111001111101001101 101010111101100110 110010101110111001010100011
  • Amount of stanzas: 2
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 293
  • Average number of words per stanza: 51
  • Amount of lines: 8
  • Average number of symbols per line: 72 (very long strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 13
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

  • summary of Alley Rats;
  • 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