This is an analysis of the poem A Nation's Strength that begins with:

What makes a nation's pillars high
And its foundations strong?... 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: abab cdcd eaea fefe dbdb gaga
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11010101 100101 11010001 011101 00110101 110101 01111101 110101 00011011 0100101 01111101 110001 10011111 110101 11110101 010101 11110111 010111 11111101 111101 11111101 111101 11010101 110001
  • Amount of stanzas: 6
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 122
  • Average number of words per stanza: 24
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 30 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The speaker asks many questions. Perhaps, he or she is in confusion.

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

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

  • summary of A Nation's Strength;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson