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

The arguments between those elite,
Are increasingly seen to be amongst themselves....

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: aXa Xbc cbX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 3,3,3,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 010001101 101001000101 0101001000 100100001001001 1001111011001 010011101010 11100101111 1110001 00101000110111100
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 140
  • Average number of words per stanza: 25
  • Amount of lines: 9
  • Average number of symbols per line: 46 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • 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; to is repeated.

    The author used the same word and at the beginnings of some neighboring stanzas. The figure of speech is a kind of anaphora.

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Lawrence S. Pertillar