This is an analysis of the poem These Lacustrine Cities that begins with:

These lacustrine cities grew out of loathing
Into something forgetful, although angry with history. ...

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: aXbc XdeX XXee cefg XXbg fdgXXagce
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,9,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: enclosed rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11001011010 001001011100100 1101001010110100110 100101010 10101010 01011010011 000111110010 100111110100101 111101010010 1010001010000101 1101000100010 1111110 0100100 10111010110101 0111111010111 111110010100100010 0010011010010001001 011011000101 11101011 101001011111011010 010110111 100101010010 0110101010110111 1010101111 111010010 100101110000010100 11001010010 1101010001101
  • Amount of stanzas: 7
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 200
  • Average number of words per stanza: 35
  • Amount of lines: 28
  • Average number of symbols per line: 50 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 9
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

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

  • summary of These Lacustrine Cities;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by John Ashbery