This is an analysis of the poem Bituminous? that begins with:

The hard coal's called bituminous,
Or is that anthracite?...

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: abcXaXcabaXaXdXdXcccXbcX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 24,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 01110100 101101 10001101 11111000 1101110 11110100 11111111 11101100 01000111 11110100 10110000 1010100 01000100 11111010 0010100 110101000 1001100 11001101 11110101 11110101 01111101 000101010 1111001 111000100
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 747
  • Average number of words per stanza: 124
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 30 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 5
  • Mood of the speaker:

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

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

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

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Shel Silverstein