This is an analysis of the poem What Shall We Do? that begins with:

Here now, for evermore, our lives must part.
My path leads there, and yours another way.... 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 acac dddd eceXXbbbb
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,9,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 1111011111 1111110101 1111001111 01010010111 1001110111 1011010101 11001011001 1100011111 10100100110 1001111101 10010010010 1101110101 1001010101 0110010001 1011010111 10010101110 1011100101 10111011111 110010010111 1101011101
  • Amount of stanzas: 5
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 178
  • Average number of words per stanza: 35
  • Amount of lines: 20
  • Average number of symbols per line: 44 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 9
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The speaker asks many questions. Perhaps, he or she is in confusion.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; it, of, no are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same word no is repeated.

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

  • summary of What Shall We Do?;
  • 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