The Normals by Lawrence S. Pertillar: poem analysis

This is an analysis of the poem The Normals that begins with:

That group of people over there...
Tethered and being lead around like that....

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: Xab XbX X XXX aX XXXX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 3,3,1,3,2,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic trimeter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11010101 1011010111 1100 1101 11110 101100100 111 110110 11010100111 11010101010 1 111100101111 10010 0101000111010010 110 00010001011111
  • Amount of stanzas: 6
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 85
  • Average number of words per stanza: 16
  • Amount of lines: 16
  • Average number of symbols per line: 31 (strings are less long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 6

  • Mood of the speaker:

    The speaker asks many questions. Perhaps, he or she is in confusion.

    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; they is repeated.

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

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

  • summary of The Normals;
  • 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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