This is an analysis of the poem America that begins with:

Once in English they said America. Was it English to them.
Once they said Belgian.... 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: XXXaXXXXXabXb
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 13,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1010110100101000 11110 1101 11110 111 111 11010010 11110 1111 111010 1111 011010101 11
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 299
  • Average number of words per stanza: 59
  • Amount of lines: 13
  • Average number of symbols per line: 22 (very short strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 5
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; we is repeated.

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

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Gertrude Stein