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

‘I, I, I'. What a word! It's unfair!
Is this man I? Is this not a fake?...

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: abaab cccXc deXce dfccf aXaXe
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 5,5,5,5,5,
  • Closest metre: trochaic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: couplets
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 111101001 001100101 101011101 10101001 111011101 1001011110 001010001 0111110110 111011100 001001011 1001011010 111000100 0111110110 1001011010 111001011 101111111 01011101 0010010010 1011110110 1101101011 101001101 001011111 10110111 1010010010 101001001
  • Amount of stanzas: 5
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 188
  • Average number of words per stanza: 36
  • Amount of lines: 25
  • Average number of symbols per line: 37 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

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

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

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

    The author used the same word can 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 Before The Mirror;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Vladislav Khodasevich