I Already Knew by Lawrence S. Pertillar: poem analysis

This is an analysis of the poem I Already Knew that begins with:

I did not begin this journey,
Seeking to be followed....

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: Xabca daXeX bfafc bXX dgeX X Xf XXag
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 5,5,5,3,4,1,2,4,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 10101010 100010 1100101 111100010 01110101 101111110100 101101101 111110 1011010 11011 11001111101 111011010 01010011110 111010001010001010 0110111110001101 1111 1111 111110011111 101 10101001 010 101001 110101011111 1110101010 101 10101 1110 1110101011001
  • Amount of stanzas: 9
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 102
  • Average number of words per stanza: 20
  • Amount of lines: 28
  • Average number of symbols per line: 32 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 6

  • 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; my, you are repeated.

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

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

  • summary of I Already Knew;
  • 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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