This is an analysis of the poem Common Things that begins with:

I like to hear of wealth and gold,
And El Doradoes in their glory; ...

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: abab cbcb acac XdXd efef
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: ballad stanza
  • Metre: 11010111 111000110 11111101 011101010 01000101 010101010 11011101 010101010 11010101 111101010 01110111 110111010 11011101 011001010 0101010 011111010 11011111 011101010 11110101 111111010
  • Amount of stanzas: 5
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 140
  • Average number of words per stanza: 26
  • Amount of lines: 20
  • Average number of symbols per line: 34 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

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

  • summary of Common Things;
  • 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