How should I prepare to write a commentary on an unseen poem?

Although the unseen poetry section of an exam can seem intimidating, in my experience I've found it useful to begin by annotating the poem, and then using these annotations to structure your commentary. There are 8 things you might want to begin considering - although these aren't exhaustive, and you certainly don't have to write about all of them, having this process in mind when annotating can help it seem a bit less scary when you come to plan your essay!Form - what type of poem is this? Is it a sonnet, a ballad, an ode, etc.? How might this shape the meaning of the text?Metre - what's the metre of the poem? Although metre can seem difficult at times, scansion is a really easy way to pick up marks on the exam. If you can identify the metre, and identify which words or syllables are stressed and unstressed, or instances in which lines are hypermetrical or catalectic, and relate it back to the meaning of the poem, then you're already working towards a high level analysis. Structure - what interesting structural patterns are at play? Is there any interesting punctuation or capitalisation? Are there any instances of enjambment or caesura? Is there any repetition, anaphora or circularity? You can also talk about the absence of these things, and how they might interact with the metrical patterns of the poem, and then how this in turn will shape the meaning of the poem.Narrative and voice - what is the poem actually saying? Does it tell a story? Is anyone telling the story, or is there any dialogue? Often this can relate back to form (especially if it's a ballad or an epic!), and it won't always be relevant. However, it's still important to identify what the poem is attempting to show. Imagery - identify the imagery in the text - this can be a metaphor that is continued throughout, or a moment of personification that occurs on just one line. Is there a metaphor or a simile, any instances of metonymy or personification? What adjectives or verbs have been selected by the poet? What techniques are being used, and how do they shape meaning? This can also be a great area to show that you're making a judgement on the text - is the imagery effective in shaping meaning, or is it particularly haunting, anxious, or even sublime?Sound - this often relates directly to imagery. Are there any instances of alliteration, assonance or sibilance? Is there a sense of a euphony or cacophony? How does this serve to reinforce meaning and the imagery, or contrast to it?The poet and wider context - In a commentary, showing contextual knowledge isn't always vital to getting top marks, and it won't always be relevant. However, it can potentially be a good way to ground your commentary of the poem in wider context. Have you heard of the poet before, and do you know if they were involved in any literary movements, or historical events that could influence their perspective? For example, if you were presented with a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, you could potentially draw on any former knowledge of the Romantics, if it relates to the interpretation of the poem. Theory - if you were to sometimes it can be worthwhile thinking about any theoretical approaches that could apply. Could you relate a feminist or marxist interpretation for example, or would any wider theoretical knowledge of poetry as a whole be relevant? For example, in Robert Browning's 'My Last Duchess', a feminist interpretation would definitely be applicable, in terms of the gender dynamics between the Duke and Duchess, and instances of objectification.Make sure that when you think about these aspects, you're always relating it back to how it shapes the meaning of the poem! Just identifying these features is purely descriptive - if you want to reach the top levels, it's important to always ask WHY is this technique here, and HOW it shapes the meaning.