This is an analysis of the poem The Long Shadow of Lincoln: A Litany that begins with:

(We can succeed only by concert. . . . The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty,...

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:
  • Stanza lengths (in strings):
  • Closest metre:
  • Сlosest rhyme:
  • Сlosest stanza type:
  • Guessed form:
  • Metre:
  • Amount of stanzas: 11
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 271
  • Average number of words per stanza: 46
  • Amount of lines: 85
  • Average number of symbols per line: 34 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; we, be, must, with, each, and, sing, their, of, old, in are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words beyond, each, for, what, there, with, out, in, over are repeated.

    The author used the same words be, there at the beginnings of some neighboring stanzas. The figure of speech is a kind of anaphora.

    There is a poetic device epiphora at the end of some neighboring lines time is repeated).

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

  • summary of The Long Shadow of Lincoln: A Litany;
  • 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