Selective Memory by Lawrence S. Pertillar: poem analysis

This is an analysis of the poem Selective Memory that begins with:

If I had not been there for you,
With interest......

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: AbcXXcXa D EcEcDcb X XAXecb X fdbecfb
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,1,7,1,6,1,7,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: enclosed rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 01110111 0100 01111 0111 11110010 010110101100 00101110001 11011101 110101100 0101001101010 0111000101 0101001101010 01011100111100 110101100 1110101011111 01101 1001110011 1110111000010100 01110111 11110100 110010110 10101101101 0010101011 1101 010 11001101 001011100 11011010 01111100 110 0111111111
  • Amount of stanzas: 7
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 153
  • Average number of words per stanza: 28
  • Amount of lines: 31
  • Average number of symbols per line: 34 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 6

  • 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; to, you, your are repeated.

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

    The literary device anadiplosis is detected in two or more neighboring lines. The word/phrase options connects the lines.

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

  • summary of Selective Memory;
  • 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

Poems about...
✕