This is an analysis of the poem The Torch-Bearer that begins with:

GREAT cities rise and have their fall; the brass
That held their glories moulders in its turn.... 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: abcdefagh beeXhechXXbihjahe fkXacckjgdXbXb hhXhaicXhhhck
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 9,17,14,13,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 1101111101 1111010001 1101110101 1101010001 0101110111 1111000100 010010001011 0101010101 0001100101 0101110101 0101111111 1101000101 11 010010101 0101110001 1111110101 0101011100 01010001010 1111010111 11110101010 11010101001 1001100011 0101011101 1001010101 10100010101 1111000101 11011100101 0111010101 0101000101 11010010101 0101010001 1101010001 1001010001 11110000101 1111110101 1101100001 0101111101 1100011101 10110101101 0101010001 1111100001 0101001111 1101010101 1101010101 1101001111 1101110111 1101011101 1001010101 11011111101 0101010111 1000010101 1000110101 1101010101
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 550
  • Average number of words per stanza: 100
  • Amount of lines: 53
  • Average number of symbols per line: 41 (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; its, of, in are repeated.

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

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Edith Wharton