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

Once riding in old Baltimore,
Heart-filled, head-filled with glee,... full text

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: abXb XcXXXacac
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,9,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11001101 111101 1101000 110111 11111101 1111110 11111111 0111110 11010101 0101010 01011101 1111010
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 129
  • Average number of words per stanza: 23
  • Amount of lines: 12
  • Average number of symbols per line: 32 (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; and is repeated.

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

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Countee Cullen