This is an analysis of the poem Self-Employed: For Harvey Shapiro that begins with:

I stand and listen, head bowed,
to my inner complaint. ...

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: abXXaacbabXXcX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 14,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: sonnet with iambic tetrameter or irregular meter
  • Metre: 1111011 011001 101011 11101011 1101101 10101001101 110110110 11001111 0101010 111111101010 0110101 111110100 111111011 01010110010
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 468
  • Average number of words per stanza: 87
  • Amount of lines: 14
  • Average number of symbols per line: 33 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

  • summary of Self-Employed: For Harvey Shapiro;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by David Ignatow