This is an analysis of the poem Why Can'T You Listen? that begins with:
Why can't you listen?
Why can't you hear words from Me? ...
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: ABBAa ABBAa BACCb bdXbb aacXX ABBAa BACCcd ABBbaa XX XbX
- Stanza lengths (in strings): 5,5,5,5,5,5,6,6,2,3,
- Closest metre: iambic trimeter
- Сlosest rhyme: rondeau rhyme
- Сlosest stanza type: tercets
- Guessed form: unknown form
- Metre: 11110 1111101 1111110 010 10 11110 1111101 1111110 010 10 11111 1111101 1111001 11101 111111 111101 1011011 0011100 11011 101101 1111101 10011111 1111101 01011 111111 11110 1111101 1111110 010 10 11111 1111101 1111001 11101 11111 01 11110 1111101 1111110 01001 10 1110 10 111011001 010 111011 1101110
- Amount of stanzas: 10
- Average number of symbols per stanza: 111
- Average number of words per stanza: 23
- Amount of lines: 47
- Average number of symbols per line: 23 (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.
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; why, can't, you, me are repeated.
The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same word why is repeated.
The author used the same word why at the beginnings of some neighboring stanzas. The figure of speech is a kind of anaphora.
The literary device anadiplosis is detected in two or more neighboring lines. The word/phrase listen connects the lines.
If you write a school or university poetry essay, you should Include in your explanation of the poem:
- summary of Why Can'T You Listen?;
- central theme;
- idea of the verse;
- history of its creation;
- critical appreciation.
Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!
Pay attention: the program cannot take into account all the numerous nuances of poetic technique while analyzing. We make no warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability and suitability with respect to the information.
More information about poems by Lawrence S. Pertillar
- Analysis of When You Push
- Analysis of I Once Couldn'T Get Enough Of You
- Analysis of Sunlight Is What I Wish To See
