Poetry Analysis:

How to Read and Analyze a Poem - “... from the general to the specific”

General Points:

• Read the poem carefully and repeatedly if necessary.
• Read it out loud; this is how poetry should be read!

1. Try to establish the general idea or theme of the poem. Does it tell a
   story? Does it paint a picture or feeling? What is its general point of view?
   [At this stage, don’t worry about understanding every single line or word!!]
   
   
2. Look for structural patterns, rhyme and meter (if any):
   
   • structural patterns
     • number of lines
     • stanza type
       
   • rhyme and meter
     • rhyme scheme
     • type of "foot" (eg. iambic)
     • number of "feet" (eg. pentameter)
   • 
     
3. Then look for individual poetic devices and techniques:
• Look for imagery, which usually connects to the dominant theme(s) in a poem
  • vivid adjectives and descriptions
• Look for “meaning play” (e.g. figurative language, metaphor, simile, irony, etc.).
• Look for “word play” (e.g. alliteration, assonance, etc.).

Writing an Analysis:

• If you end up writing about the poem, organize the body of your response
  in the same way as above.
• Include a thesis, an introduction that acknowledges the poem and poet, and
  a conclusion.
  
• For your thesis and conclusion, try to find a connection between the #1 and #2-3.
  Does the structure or a poetic device, for example, reinforce the theme?