This is an analysis of the poem The Has-Been that begins with:

A stone face higher than six horses stood five thousand years gazing at the world seeming to clutch a secret.
A boy passes and throws a...

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: aXa
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 3,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 01110111011100101011001010 011011010011101001001111101111001111001101 01111101111110111101001010
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 400
  • Average number of words per stanza: 79
  • Amount of lines: 3
  • Average number of symbols per line: 133 (very long strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 26
  • 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 The Has-Been;
  • 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