This is an analysis of the poem Thoughts In A Zoo that begins with:

They in their cruel traps, and we in ours,
Survey each other’s rage, and pass the hours ... 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: aabbccddddaaeeffff
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 18,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: heroic couplets
  • Metre: 1011011101 01110111010 1000010101 01010111001 1111010001 1101010101 11000101001 1011010101 1101011101 10010010101 1101110101 1101111101 1111011101 1100010101 11010100101 1111110111 1011011111 10010011101
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 804
  • Average number of words per stanza: 144
  • Amount of lines: 18
  • Average number of symbols per line: 44 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; s, his are repeated.

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

  • summary of Thoughts In A Zoo;
  • 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