Defying Those Odds by Lawrence S. Pertillar: poem analysis

This is an analysis of the poem Defying Those Odds that begins with:

Why is he laughing hysterically like that?
'It's a mystery to all of us....

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: a Xb XXX aXXca XdX XacdX a bXX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 1,2,3,5,3,5,1,3,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 10110110011 101000101 0111010 101101111 111010 10110 0110101111110 1 1010101101100110 111100 11010110101010 101 0110011101011 1011010 1 11101 101 100101110100100 110101010011 11111011 10011 0011101001 111111
  • Amount of stanzas: 8
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 91
  • Average number of words per stanza: 18
  • Amount of lines: 23
  • Average number of symbols per line: 31 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 6

  • 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; he is repeated.

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

  • summary of Defying Those Odds;
  • 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

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