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

The years of my youth, my sensual life --
how clearly I see their meaning now....

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: XX a X Xbb aXX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 2,1,1,3,3,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 0001111001 110111101 1101000110 11011010101 001001011 0010011000101 0101111010 0011100001010 1110100011101 1011110101
  • Amount of stanzas: 5
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 82
  • Average number of words per stanza: 15
  • Amount of lines: 10
  • 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; my, of are repeated.

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

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

  • summary of Understanding;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Constantine P. Cavafy