This is an analysis of the poem Escaping Definitions that begins with:

Words should not offend,
Or become twisted to bend...

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: aabcXdabbeeeaabXcd X b XXXX dXXe
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 18,1,1,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11101 1011001 10100 101010 0101 0010100 11001 0110 10001 1101 110 1111111 1111 1111 11010 0101111 010010 10111 1011110011 0101010 1 1100101 0111001 1110011 1 1101 11101 1111110010
  • Amount of stanzas: 5
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 129
  • Average number of words per stanza: 22
  • Amount of lines: 28
  • Average number of symbols per line: 22 (very short strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 4
  • 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.

    There are many three dots in the poem. Readers should think of the author's idea together with the pensive speaker.

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

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

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

  • summary of Escaping Definitions;
  • 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