This is an analysis of the poem Can'T that begins with:

Can't is the worst word that's written or spoken;
Doing more harm here than slander and lies; ...

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: ababcdcd efefaaaa cgcgeaea ahahcacX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,8,8,8,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: shakespearean sonnet
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 10011110110 1011111011 10010011010 1001000101 0010010010110 11101011101 010111010110 11111011101 10010010010 01001011101 010010010010 11001011001 010010010010 01001001001 011010010010 11101101001 10011110110 01001001001 010110010010 01011011001 010010110010 01001001011 10101010010 11111011111 10011010010 11001101010 010010010010 11101011011 10010111010 11001011101 110011110110 11001011011
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 365
  • Average number of words per stanza: 69
  • Amount of lines: 33
  • Average number of symbols per line: 43 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • 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, of, it are repeated.

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

    The author used the same word can't 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 Can'T;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Edgar Albert Guest