This is an analysis of the poem Expanded Possibilities that begins with:

We live.
We learn....

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: XaabX Xcdacdab Xadbd
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 5,8,5,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11 11 1101 01 0010010011 1101 1010011 0001010110 1001 0100101 110100 10110101 01011101 1 1111011 0101101 01010010 001010100
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 146
  • Average number of words per stanza: 25
  • Amount of lines: 18
  • Average number of symbols per line: 24 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 4
  • Mood of the speaker:

    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; we, to are repeated.

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

    The author used the same word we 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 Expanded Possibilities;
  • 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