This is an analysis of the poem Tell Him Why that begins with:

When your boy wants to do what he shouldn't—
Some foolish or dangerous thing. ...

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 eaeafdfD ggggcdcd
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,8,8,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 1111011110 11011001 110111110 01101011 1111110011 11011101 0010010111 11101011 1111011111 111001101 1010111111 111101011 1111111010 01101111 111010110 11101011 011010010 01001001 010110011 11111001 010010011 111101011 1010011111 01101011
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 296
  • Average number of words per stanza: 58
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 36 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words when, a are repeated.

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

    The poet repeated the same word why at the end of some neighboring stanzas. The poetic device is a kind of epiphora.

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

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

  • summary of Tell Him Why;
  • 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