This is an analysis of the poem The Bridge Builder that begins with:

An old man, going a lone highway,
Came at the evening cold and gray... 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: Xabbccbb ddaabX bbaaaacX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,6,8,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 111100111 11010111 001011111 111100101 011100111 01011111 1111110101 11010101 10101010101 1010110101 1100100101 110010101 111010111 11101110100 010100111 1010011110011 101010101 01111101 011101101 011110110 111100111 01111001110
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 302
  • Average number of words per stanza: 57
  • Amount of lines: 22
  • Average number of symbols per line: 40 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 8
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; and is repeated.

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

    The poet repeated the same word tide 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 The Bridge Builder;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!