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

Here is a tale for all who wish to listen:
There was a thief who, in his cut-throat quarter,... 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: abbacbbcbdbXdb
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 14,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: sonnet with trochaic pentameter or irregular meter
  • Metre: 10011111010 11011001110 11111101010 01010101010 11010010110 11110101010 11000101010 01011100010 11011101010 111101010010 010111010010 11010111010 1100100111110 111101001010
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 639
  • Average number of words per stanza: 116
  • Amount of lines: 14
  • Average number of symbols per line: 45 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Madison Julius Cawein