This is an analysis of the poem Break It Down that begins with:

If something there is bothering you,
But you don't know what you should do....

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: AABCBC CCBCBC ADBB XXCBCB ADBCB AABCBC CCBCBCXADBCBCADBCBCB
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,6,4,6,5,6,20,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: rondeau rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 010101001 11111111 11101 111 11101 111 01110101 11111011 11101 111 11101 111 10101001 1001101 11101 11101 001110 1010100 100 11101 100 11101 10101001 1001101 11101 100 11101 010101001 11111111 11101 111 11101 111 01110101 11111011 11101 111 11101 111 10101001 1001101 11101 111 11101 111 10101001 1001101 11101 111 11101 111 11101
  • Amount of stanzas: 8
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 156
  • Average number of words per stanza: 31
  • Amount of lines: 52
  • 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:

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

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

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same word you is repeated.

    There is a poetic device epiphora at the end of some neighboring lines down is repeated).

    The poet repeated the same words bit, down at the end of some neighboring stanzas. The poetic device is a kind of epiphora.

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

  • summary of Break It Down;
  • 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