This is an analysis of the poem Not A Money Debt that begins with:

YOU can't pay back in dollars what your father does for you,
You can't repay in kindness all the tenderness he shows; ...

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: aXaX bcbc
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 11110101110111 11010101010011 11010101110111 101010100011101 101011101010111 111010101011111 0010111001101001 101011101100101
  • Amount of stanzas: 2
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 241
  • Average number of words per stanza: 46
  • Amount of lines: 8
  • Average number of symbols per line: 59 (very long strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 11
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

    The literary device anadiplosis is detected in two or more neighboring lines. The word/phrase you connects the lines.

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

  • summary of Not A Money Debt;
  • 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