This is an analysis of the poem O My Brother, You Must Not Die that begins with:

O my young brother, I cry for you
Don't you understand you must not die!...

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: XaXXXXab acbXcXXb
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,8,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 111101111 111011111 11010101 0101010101 1101010101 100010101 100011101 1111110101 11101111 100010001 1001010001 1101010101 110001011 101101010 001100101 110011101
  • Amount of stanzas: 2
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 303
  • Average number of words per stanza: 59
  • Amount of lines: 16
  • Average number of symbols per line: 37 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

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

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; you, to are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same word teaching is repeated.

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

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

  • summary of O My Brother, You Must Not Die;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Akiko Yosano