This is an analysis of the poem Booker T. Washington that begins with:

The word is writ that he who runs may read.
What is the passing breath of earthly fame?...

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: abbaabbaacacac
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 14,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: sonnet with iambic pentameter or irregular meter
  • Metre: 0101111111 1001010101 1011000101 1000010101 0101010101 1001110111 0101000101 0101010101 1101000101 0101011111 1111110101 1101110101 0101011001 1011011101
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 594
  • Average number of words per stanza: 116
  • Amount of lines: 14
  • Average number of symbols per line: 42 (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; to is repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same word a is repeated.

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

  • summary of Booker T. Washington;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Paul Laurence Dunbar