How do I analyse an unseen poem?

The first thing to do when analysing an unseen poem is to read it through twice. The first time you read is to gain your first impressions and understanding of the poem, and the second time is to start noticing particular elements. There are three main things to bear in mind when analysing a poem: Content, Structure and Form. Look through the poem with the following questions in mind, annotating it with your answers. It may help you to annotate in three different colours.Content: What is the poem saying? What is happening? Is there a message or a lesson? Who is in the poem? What are they doing and why? Structure: How is the poem set out? Is it in stanzas? How many lines is it? What is the punctuation like? Do the stanzas follow on from one another? Form: Does the poem adhere to a specific form? Meaning, is it a sonnet? Ode? Lyric? Epic? Elegy? Narrative poem? If it is a specific form, is it typical or atypical of that form? How and why? Do the form and content go together? After answering all of these questions, you must then consider if it is significant to the context of the poem, and why it is significant. For instance, if the poem is in the form of a sonnet but does not address the topic of love, which is typical to the sonnet form, what does that suggest about the meaning of the poem? Why is it important that the poet chose a form which does not match the contents of the poem? Now that you have annotated your poem with all of this information, you can begin to plan out your answer. There are two ways to organise your answer: chronologically, or by argument. Answering by argument is slightly more difficult, but it is a more sophisticated way which is expected for a higher grade. Chronologically, however, can be easier if you are struggling. To answer chronologically, you may simply turn your notes into sentences, pointing out what is important or significant about elements of the poem. To answer by argument, look across your annotations again and try to categorise or collate them into a theme or idea. For example, you may notice that the poem seems to focus on the theme of love. Then try to be more specific - what does the poem suggest about love? In this example poem, the poet may have a particularly cynical view on love. And there you have your argument in one sentence; 'this poem is a cynical commentary on love'. Then you can use the evidence you have found in the contents, form and structure to support your argument. Remember: Do not try to cram in every single thing you have noted about the poem, you are not trying to impress the examiner with how much you know, but with how well you can choose and analyse elements of the poem to support the point you are making.