This is an analysis of the poem Who Shall Rule This American Nation? that begins with:
Who shall rule this American Nation?
Say, boys, say!... 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: aBaBcbXB Xbab dBdBXbcB eBeBdbXB
- Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,4,8,8,
- Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
- Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
- Сlosest stanza type: tercets
- Guessed form: unknown form
- Metre: 1110010010 111 111001010 111 1011101010 111110101 1110010010 111 10101100 010101 111110010010 111 1111010010 111 0111110110 111 1110101110 001010101 1110010010 111 1110110010 111 1110010010 111 0110111010 011100101 1111110110 111
- Amount of stanzas: 4
- Average number of symbols per stanza: 211
- Average number of words per stanza: 38
- Amount of lines: 28
- Average number of symbols per line: 29 (strings are less long than medium ones)
- Average number of words per line: 5
Mood of the speaker:
There are many exclamation marks in the poem. The speaker is excited. He or she has strong feelings on the subject that is described in the poem.
The speaker asks many questions. Perhaps, he or she is in confusion.
The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; say, who, they, our are repeated.
The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words they, did are repeated.
The poet repeated the same word say at the end of some neighboring stanzas. The poetic device is a kind of epiphora.
If you write a school or university poetry essay, you should Include in your explanation of the poem:
- summary of Who Shall Rule This American Nation?;
- central theme;
- idea of the verse;
- history of its creation;
- critical appreciation.
Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!
Pay attention: the program cannot take into account all the numerous nuances of poetic technique while analyzing. We make no warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability and suitability with respect to the information.
More information about poems by Henry Clay Work
- Analysis of The Song Of The Red Man
- Analysis of Song Of A Thousand Years
- Analysis of There Is A River We All Must Cross
