Carry On by Edgar Albert Guest: poem analysis

This is an analysis of the poem Carry On that begins with:

They spoke it bravely, grimly, in their darkest hours of doubt;
They spoke it when their hope was low and when their strength gave out;...

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: aabX bbbX ccdd
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: heroic couplets
  • Metre: 110101001101001 11011111111111 11000100110111 111011101010101 101011101011101 111110101111101 001010111011101 011110101110101 101111101011101 101111101011111 101010111110101 110111101110101
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 261
  • Average number of words per stanza: 51
  • Amount of lines: 12
  • Average number of symbols per line: 64 (very long strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 13

  • Mood of the speaker:

    There are many exclamation marks in the poem. The speaker is excited. He or she has strong feelings on the subject that is described in the poem.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; their, it, they, we, 'carry, and, through, on' are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words they, 'carry are repeated.

    The poet repeated the same word ' at the end of some neighboring stanzas. The poetic device is a kind of epiphora.

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Edgar Albert Guest

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