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

I SIT in a chair and read the newspapers.
Millions of men go to war, acres of them are buried, guns and ships broken, cities burned, villages sent...

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: a XXa
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 1,3,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11001110110 1001101100011011110101100110111011111011101101101010011 11001110110
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 104
  • Average number of words per stanza: 20
  • Amount of lines: 3
  • Average number of symbols per line: 104 (very long strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 20
  • 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 Smoke;
  • 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