This is an analysis of the poem The Crucible Of Life that begins with:

Sunshine and shadow, blue sky and gray,
Laughter and tears as we tread on our way;...

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: aabbcc ddddee ffaaee ddXXee
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,6,6,6,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 111111111 1011111111 1111011111 1111011111 1011001001 1001001101 0001001100 1111101011 1111111011 1011011011 1001001111 11000111101 1001011011 1000111011 1001111001 1001011101 1101101001 111011101001 10001011001 1001111011 0101001111 1001001100 1011001111 001001111101
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 269
  • Average number of words per stanza: 49
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • 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; and, that, out, of, with are repeated.

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

    The poet repeated the same word scum 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 The Crucible Of Life;
  • 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