This is an analysis of the poem "It Might Have Been" that begins with:

We will be what we could be. Do not say,
"It might have been, had not this, or that, or this." ... full text

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 dddd XeXe
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rima
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 1001110111 1011011011110 1111100101 110110 1011111111 11010110001 1111110111 111101 1011111111 0011111001 1101010111 111111 111101101110 011111101 1101111111 110110
  • Amount of stanzas: 4
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 169
  • Average number of words per stanza: 32
  • Amount of lines: 16
  • Average number of symbols per line: 42 (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 is repeated.

    The author used the same word we 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 "It Might Have Been";
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Ella Wheeler Wilcox