This is an analysis of the poem Bets Then...Were Off that begins with:

I bet when you came,
You did not expect this....

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: ABXbX ABcbXbb ABdXX abXXdc
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 5,7,5,6,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11111 101010 1110011 1111 1110 11111 101010 01011 00110 10111 1101 111 11111 101010 1100110 111111000101 01000 11111 1010101110 11111 111110 111101
  • Amount of stanzas: 5
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 106
  • Average number of words per stanza: 21
  • Amount of lines: 22
  • Average number of symbols per line: 23 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 5
  • Mood of the speaker:

    There are many exclamation marks in the poem. The speaker is excited. He or she has strong feelings on the subject that is described in the poem.

    The speaker asks many questions. Perhaps, he or she is in confusion.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; you is repeated.

    The author used the same word i 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 Bets Then...Were Off;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Lawrence S. Pertillar