This is an analysis of the poem An Empty Crib that begins with:

Beside a crib that holds a baby’s stocking,
A tattered picture book, a broken toy, ... 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 aaaa abab XcXc
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 01011101010 0101010101 01010111010 011101 01010101110 1101010101 11010101010 110011 111111010010 1101000101 11011011010 01110101 11001001100 1101010111 10011101010 110101
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 168
  • Average number of words per stanza: 31
  • Amount of lines: 16
  • 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; her is repeated.

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

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

  • summary of An Empty Crib;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Ella Wheeler Wilcox