This is an analysis of the poem The Knife that begins with:

Can I explain this to you? Your eyes
are entrances the mouths of caves... 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: aaabc XdeeX dbXeX afcaa XafdX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 5,5,5,5,5,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 110100111 11000101 11001000100 010111011 001111111 11010010101 011101110 101110010 01010111001 1101110110 1011010111 101111001 001001010 11010111011 11011101 101110111 110100010 10010001111 1111101110 01010100110 0111001010 111110010011 1111110101 0110111001 00100110101
  • Amount of stanzas: 5
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 196
  • Average number of words per stanza: 36
  • Amount of lines: 25
  • Average number of symbols per line: 38 (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; i is repeated.

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

  • summary of The Knife;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Keith Douglas