Framework for Responding to Poetry

Analyzing Poetry

• Most poems tell a “story of emotions.”– A series of moods that change as the poem

moves from start to finish.– Whether or not we understand what

everything in the poem means, we can experience, enjoy, and convey to others the poem’s emotional drama.

• We do this by recognizing the changing tone of voice that the speaker of the poem adopts as the poem moves from beginning to end.

Introduction

• Briefly introduce the title of the poem and name of poet.

• Try to classify the type of poem it is e.g. sonnet, ballad, haiku, acrostic, lyric, ode, limerick, elegy, dramatic monologue, etc.

• Briefly explain the subject of the poem.

Point One: Explore Themes of the Poem

• Try to group the ideas in the poem.

• Is there a story the poem is trying to tell?

• What do you think the poem is about?

Point Two: Imagery Used to Express Themes

• What are the pictures in the poem?

• Are metaphors/similes used to explain ideas?

• Are the five senses used to evoke certain reactions in the reader?

Point Three: Form and Structure

• How is the poem organized?– Lines– Verses– Layout– shape

• Why has the poet decided to structure the ideas this way?– e.g. the sequence of ideas, length of lines,

patterns, etc.

Point Four: Rhyme and Rhythm

• How does the poem rhyme?– abab or aabb, etc.?

• What is the rhythm of the poem when read aloud?

• Why has this poet chosen this rhyme and rhythm to express these ideas?

Point Five: Language Patterns

• Think about the sound of the poem and choice of words.

• The poet uses specific words because the have a certain association in the reader’s mind.

• Look for alliteration, onomatopoeia, assonance personification, symbolism, etc.

– How has the poet grouped words to achieve a desired effect?

Point Six: Tone

• Tone tells the attitude of the poet to the subject.

• Tone may change; it may not necessarily stay the same throughout the poem.

• What tone of voice is the author using?

Conclusion: Poet’s Message

• What is the poet trying to communicate to the reader?

• How effective are the devices/language that he/she uses?

• What is your response to the poem?