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

naked along the side of the house,
8 a.m., spreading sesame seed oil...

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: aXXaXXbXXcXXdbecdXddea
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 22,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 100101001 111010011 1011010111 00 1110011010 1 10110 111101110 1100111 1101 1101101 101011 1110101 1010 1101010100 10 01110101 1110100110 110 0101110 01011100 1
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 546
  • Average number of words per stanza: 111
  • Amount of lines: 22
  • Average number of symbols per line: 24 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 5
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The speaker asks many questions. Perhaps, he or she is in confusion.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; of is repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same word how is repeated.

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Charles Bukowski