This is an analysis of the poem Be the Best of Whatever You Are that begins with:

If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill,
Be a scrub in the valley — but be... 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: abab cdcd efefXafaf
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,9,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 011001101001 001001010 01101101001 001011001 011001001001 11111001 011001011001 101101001 11101011001 11011011 11101111001 101111001 011001111001 011001001 00011111111 001011011
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 163
  • Average number of words per stanza: 37
  • Amount of lines: 16
  • Average number of symbols per line: 40 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 9
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; be, to, there's, you are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words there's, if are repeated.

    The author used the same word if at the beginnings of some neighboring stanzas. The figure of speech is a kind of anaphora.

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

  • summary of Be the Best of Whatever You Are;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Douglas Malloch