This is an analysis of the poem For Sale that begins with:

One sister for sale!
One sister for sale!...

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: AAabbXaccaa
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 11,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11011 11011 11011011011 110110 111010 111010 010 010 111111110 11101011011 01011011011
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 320
  • Average number of words per stanza: 65
  • Amount of lines: 11
  • Average number of symbols per line: 28 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    There are many exclamation marks in the poem. The speaker is excited. He or she has strong feelings on the subject that is described in the poem.

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

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; one, sister, for, sale are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words one, a are repeated.

    There is a poetic device epiphora at the end of some neighboring lines sale is repeated).

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

  • summary of For Sale;
  • 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