This is an analysis of the poem Trying To Convince Ourselves that begins with:

If I spent my life seeking your approval...
Neither one of us would be improving, ...

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: XXab cdde fXaghb efbX gchdXX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,6,4,6,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 01111101010 1010110010 11101 1110001110111 110110 01 1010 1010001111 1101 1 110111111 01010010100100 11000101 10110001010100 1111 100011010111 1010101100 0010101110100 110110101000100 111001101 11110101 1110101010 10010110010011 0110110101010000
  • Amount of stanzas: 5
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 171
  • Average number of words per stanza: 30
  • Amount of lines: 24
  • Average number of symbols per line: 35 (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.

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

    The author used the same word we at the beginnings of some neighboring stanzas. The figure of speech is a kind of anaphora.

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

  • summary of Trying To Convince Ourselves;
  • 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