This is an analysis of the poem Thumbsucker that begins with:

I met her on a corner in Duluth
(That’s the truth.)...

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: aaaaXXbbccb Xdccb Xd
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 11,5,2,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 1101010001 101 1110101001011 0111 1111110101 111111111111 1111011100111 11110111111 11111101 11011111 1111011100111 11110100101 11111010101 1111010101 11110100110101 11111011100111 1100110001100100
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 252
  • Average number of words per stanza: 54
  • Amount of lines: 18
  • Average number of symbols per line: 41 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 9
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; her, she, i, and, you, thumb, they, suck are repeated.

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

    The author used the same word i at the beginnings of some neighboring stanzas. The figure of speech is a kind of anaphora.

    The poet repeated the same word thumb at the end of some neighboring stanzas. The poetic device is a kind of epiphora.

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

  • summary of Thumbsucker;
  • 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