This is an analysis of the poem Laughter Holding Both His Sides that begins with:

Ay, thou varlet! Laugh away!
All the world's a holiday!... 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: XXaabbccddee
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 12,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1110101 1010101 1011111 1111101 1111111 1010111 0110111 1110101 1011111 1011111 1001111 1111101
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 393
  • Average number of words per stanza: 69
  • Amount of lines: 12
  • Average number of symbols per line: 32 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • 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 author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; thy, and are repeated.

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

  • summary of Laughter Holding Both His Sides;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by James Whitcomb Riley