How do I analyse a poem?

When analysing poetry there are many key aspects to look at in order to create depth within your analysis. Firstly start with reading the poem aloud, noticing the way the pace of the poem may slow or speed up, noticing the sounds of the words within the poem and the effects they create. Do certain parts of the poem sound harsher and/or faster? What impact does this have on your perception of the poem? Begin to make ideas about the topic of the poem, and what emotions and/or images are created? 

Secondly begin to look at the rhyme of the poem, does the rhyme of the poem influence the message of the poem? For example, does the poem have irreguar rhyme that impacts the way in which it reads? Consider the narrative of the poem, possibly it is a monologue with a single speaker? How might this impact the readers view of the poem?

Answered by Georgia W. English tutor

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