The Laws of Motion by Nikki Giovanni: poem analysis

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

(for Harlem Magic)
The laws of science teach us a pound of gold weighs as ...

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:
  • Stanza lengths (in strings):
  • Closest metre:
  • Сlosest rhyme:
  • Сlosest stanza type:
  • Guessed form:
  • Metre:
  • Amount of stanzas: 9
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 211
  • Average number of words per stanza: 39
  • Amount of lines: 39
  • Average number of symbols per line: 48 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 9

  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

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

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

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

    There is a poetic device epiphora at the end of some neighboring lines to, our are repeated).

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

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

  • summary of The Laws of Motion;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Nikki Giovanni

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