This is an analysis of the poem The Base Stealer that begins with:

Poised between going on and back, pulled
Both ways taut like a tightrope-walker,...

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: aXXXXbbaXX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 10,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 101101111 111101110 101100100 110111011 1011011111 1001000111 1110101010 1010110101 110101111 1001001001001
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 409
  • Average number of words per stanza: 65
  • Amount of lines: 10
  • Average number of symbols per line: 40 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • 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 The Base Stealer;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Robert Francis