This is an analysis of the poem The Recruit that begins with:

Bat and ball are there, lad,
And you not there to play . . ....

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: abcX ddaX bbaX cbbX XdXX XXaX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 111111 111101 10010110 110110 101111 111101 111011 101101 10111 10111 1111111 00101 1110110 11101 110111 101101 1101111 110101 101110 11111 1101111 11101 111011 111110
  • Amount of stanzas: 6
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 111
  • Average number of words per stanza: 22
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 27 (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.

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Cicely Fox Smith