I Could But I Choose Not To by Lawrence S. Pertillar: poem analysis

This is an analysis of the poem I Could But I Choose Not To that begins with:

If one has been given a gift to 'see',
With a wish to deliver......

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: XabXcdec X ec dX eba X Xe X bXX X X
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,1,2,2,3,1,2,1,3,1,1,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 0110100101 0010010 1101001011 0010111010 10100100101 1 01111111 0001010101101 11011110011 1 110 1110110010 111001 0111 0111 110001010 1110 110 1111110 1111101111 1011100010 101 111011 11111 010011110
  • Amount of stanzas: 11
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 65
  • Average number of words per stanza: 12
  • Amount of lines: 25
  • Average number of symbols per line: 28 (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; to is repeated.

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

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

  • summary of I Could But I Choose Not To;
  • 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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