This is an analysis of the poem Mystery and Solitude in Topeka that begins with:

Afternoon darkens into evening. A man falls deeper and deeper into the slow spiral of sleep, into the drift of it, the length of it, through what...

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: X
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 1,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1011000100111011000011001000100010011111111101101111100110110101101100111111101101011101010110111111101001101101100011110100100010010111001011010110110011001001101010110
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 685
  • Average number of words per stanza: 131
  • Amount of lines: 1
  • Average number of symbols per line: 685 (very long strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 131
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

  • summary of Mystery and Solitude in Topeka;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Mark Strand