This is an analysis of the poem If It Was Not For My Mother that begins with:

They would spread lies,
On my sisters and I....

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: abacbaaXadeeaacXfaXfd
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 21,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1111 111011 110100 01011010 1010110 010011 1011001 010101000100 1010100110 11111011010 01001010001 110001001 0010101010 11011011111 0010100100 1111010 00111110 101010011 111111011 011101110 00101100
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 707
  • Average number of words per stanza: 117
  • Amount of lines: 21
  • Average number of symbols per line: 33 (medium-length strings)
  • 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.

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

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

  • summary of If It Was Not For My Mother;
  • 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