This is an analysis of the poem The Santa-Fe Trail (A Humoresque) that begins with:

I asked the old Negro, "What is that bird that sings so well?" He answered: "That is the Rachel-Jane." "Hasn't it another... 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:
  • Stanza lengths (in strings):
  • Closest metre:
  • Сlosest rhyme:
  • Сlosest stanza type:
  • Guessed form:
  • Metre:
  • Amount of stanzas: 17
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 359
  • Average number of words per stanza: 64
  • Amount of lines: 160
  • Average number of symbols per line: 37 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; i, that, horn, to, us, kansas, him, and, from, cars, here, comes, some, of, them, sweet, crack, in are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words hark, it, ho, i, they, cars, listen, here, the, crack are repeated.

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

    There is a poetic device epiphora at the end of some neighboring lines horn, us, crack are repeated).

    The poet repeated the same words i, horn at the end of some neighboring stanzas. The poetic device is a kind of epiphora.

    The literary device anadiplosis is detected in two or more neighboring lines. The words/phrases i, crack connect the lines.

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

  • summary of The Santa-Fe Trail (A Humoresque);
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Vachel Lindsay