Understanding and analyzing a poem is whatquing poetry is all about.You can respond to the poem once you understand its meaning.You can contribute to the poem even if the poet is not in the room.If you learn how to read and understand poems, you can provide a critical response to them.
Step 1: The form of the poem should be looked at.
You should first look at how it looks.Before you start to read, you can learn a lot about the poem's organization.You can see that the poem is broken into groups of lines and that there is a space between them.You can understand the poem's rhythm by looking at the lines.If the poem takes the form of an established form, such as a sonnet, or if it's unique, you can tell.
Step 2: You can silently read the poem.
The first thing to do when reading a poem is to sit down and read from beginning to end.It's okay if you need to read it several times.
Step 3: The poem should be read aloud.
It is helpful to read a poem in different ways.The sound of a poem is related to music, so reading aloud will help you understand it.You can find the rhythm of the poem or other special effects of words.
Step 4: When you're reading, pay attention to what's written.
When reading a poem, be aware of the language.Punctuation can tell you when to stop.You should read on if the poet breaks lines off with no punctuation.Sometimes poets want you to stop at the end of a line.They've done this on purpose if the poem only has a few words.Look at the poem before you read it.
Step 5: Look up words you don't understand.
You don't get a fancy word?If you write it down or look up, you'll be able to understand what the poem is all about.When looking up words, throw caution to the wind.If you're reading a poem that's centuries old, you may have a different meaning for a word.It's a good idea to note any words that have multiple meanings.
Step 6: Look at the title.
You should start with the title to understand the meaning of the poem.The poets choose their titles.Is the title provoking a feeling?Does it set up expectations for the subject?The initial reaction to the title should be noted in the margin.What are your expectations for the poem?
Step 7: Decide who, where, and why of the poem.
The subject of the poem and what the poet is trying to communicate to you will be discovered if you think about this set of criteria.Who is the author of the poem?The narrative voice in the poem is not always the poet's.Is there more than one character in the poem?Who is the speaker's audience?What is the basic plot of the poem?Are there conflicts resolved?Is there a turning point in the poem?When does the poem start?What time is present?In the past?Do you mean over a long period of time or a single night?Where does the poem end?Is it a physical location?Is that an imaginary environment?The speaker of the poem is speaking to you.What made the speaker to share this poem?
Step 8: The poem has a rhythm.
Now that you've thought about the poem's subject and intent, look more closely at how the meter and rhythm contribute to its meaning.To get a sense of the poem's rhythm or meter, read it aloud.The meaning of the poem can be understood if words are stressed through rhyme or repetition.Punctuation or words in a poem that make you slow down is a way of calling attention to their importance.
Step 9: Determine what imagery is conjured up by the poem.
Think about what images popped up in your mind after reading the poem.Understanding the imagery of a poem will help you understand its meaning.The images were put in your mind by the poet.It's not limited to the visual.Through words, imagery relates to smell or taste.symbolism is a physical object that represents an idea, value, or emotion.If a poet has used an object multiple times, that's a good sign that it may be a symbol.Do you think that object could represent an idea?The poet might use allusions to conjure up an image.Allusions often refer to other texts, such as the Bible.
Step 10: You should look for metaphors and similes.
The poet evokes an image through words if they compare one thing to another.
Step 11: Give the poem's meaning.
Most poets write their poems with an idea they want the reader to take away from it, but readers may take something different depending on their own biases and experiences.You should explicitly state the meaning you took away from the poem now that you've read it.If you want to understand the poem, you need to provide evidence.It is useful for the poet or reader of the essay to understand what signals in the poem brought them to this conclusion.If you think the poem is saying something, you need to have some evidence to back it up.The meaning of the poem could relate to the poet's own life, could reflect societal norms, or could challenge an accepted idea.Evidence from the poem can include things like rhythm, organization, and imagery.It is easier to follow your thoughts if you reference the evidence in the poem by line number.
Step 12: Consider the author's intent.
People might react to poems in different ways.Think about how this poem will appeal to someone who is different from you.Is there room for more than one interpretation?This will help you and the poet understand the meaning of the poem.
Step 13: Determine how the poem relates to other poems.
There are other poems with the same theme.How is this different?How is it the same?This will help you and the poet understand how their work meshes with other poems.It's a good idea to be cautious when speaking about originality.It's not unoriginal if it bears some similarities to other authors' works.
Step 14: Voice any concern or confusion.
A valuable response to the poem can be provided by a reader.If there are parts that you don't understand, speak up.This can be the beginning of a constructive discussion.Since poetry is often an expression of the poet's innermost feelings, use caution with your criticism.Even if the poem is not directly dealing with the poet's feelings, creating any work of art can lead to heightened sensitivity.
Step 15: There is a list of things that contributed to the poem's meaning.
It is important to keep in mind the elements that work in the poem.This will help the reader of your interpretation or the poet understand what elements did contribute to understanding the meaning of the poem.A lot of praise isn't helpful for convincing the reader that you understood the poem.Praise is not useful for a poet.Explain why a part was particularly strong.