This is an analysis of the poem The Thief On The Cross that begins with:

Three crosses rose on Calvary against the iron sky,
Each with its living burden, each with its human cry.... 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: aaabbbccc dddaXa
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 9,6,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: rondeau
  • Metre: 11011100010101 1001010100101 1101011110111 1101010011101 1101110110101 010100100101001 1101010100101 11111111010101 1110001100111 11010101101101 0101010110101 11010101110111 11110101111101 1111010011100 1011111101101
  • Amount of stanzas: 2
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 425
  • Average number of words per stanza: 80
  • Amount of lines: 15
  • Average number of symbols per line: 56 (very long strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 11
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; and, his are repeated.

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

  • summary of The Thief On The Cross;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Harriet Monroe