Selfish? by Lawrence S. Pertillar: poem analysis

This is an analysis of the poem Selfish? that begins with:

Do not dull my 'lift'
By a misery you wish to spread....

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: XabbaCcccCdbebFaFadbeXdFXdXadX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 30,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: limerick
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11111 101001101 1111010100 1011 100010111 11 1111 101100011 1111 11 11100 11111001 10110100010111 111100 01 01101111 01 101 11101 011111 0110111 111100100 0101101110 01 011011101100 00010011100 10 10101101 01 1100101
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 767
  • Average number of words per stanza: 151
  • Amount of lines: 30
  • Average number of symbols per line: 25 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 5

  • 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.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; you, your, of, my are repeated.

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

  • summary of Selfish?;
  • 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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