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

When dreams have turned to dust and dust to slime;
When all you ever were or hoped to be...

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: aXaX bcbc dddd
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 1111011101 1111001100 0111110101 0101010100 1101010111 1101011101 1011001101 1111011111 1111110001 0100010101 0101000101 0101101101
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 161
  • Average number of words per stanza: 31
  • Amount of lines: 12
  • Average number of symbols per line: 39 (medium-length strings)
  • 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; to, your are repeated.

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

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by David Berman