What Offers Have You Made... by Lawrence S. Pertillar: poem analysis

This is an analysis of the poem What Offers Have You Made... that begins with:

It is not that I am selfish.
How can you say 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: ABC XXdeb bdXbX b ABC eXcc
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 3,5,5,1,3,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 00111110 11111 111101 110111011 110 110111 011011111 01010101 1111101 01010111 1111101010 111001 1011001 101001010010 00111110 11111 111101 11110110101 11001101011010 100111 01111101111
  • Amount of stanzas: 6
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 113
  • Average number of words per stanza: 22
  • Amount of lines: 21
  • Average number of symbols per line: 32 (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.

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

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; you is repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words when, and are repeated.

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

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

  • summary of What Offers Have You Made...;
  • 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...
✕