This is an analysis of the poem Soldiers that begins with:

The smile of one face is like a fierce mermaid
Floating dead in a little pale-brown pond....

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: aaabXXcXc Xb
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 9,2,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 01011010111 1010010111 0101110 001010010 010010010101 0101011010 110001101 0100011010 01010110 110001010 11010101010
  • Amount of stanzas: 2
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 210
  • Average number of words per stanza: 40
  • Amount of lines: 11
  • Average number of symbols per line: 37 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; of, like, face are repeated.

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Maxwell Bodenheim