How do I approach analysing an unseen poem?

The very first thing you need to do is purely read it through in order to get an understanding of the poem. I'd recommend not even trying to think too technically at this point, but rather notice what effect the poem itself has on you; what tone it has and what emotions It makes you feel. Once you have done this, the poem can be broken down. You might want to analyse it stanza by stanza, by themes you notice cropping up, or rather simply by each poetic technique. The third of these is most likely the easiest place to start if you are struggling to introduce technicality into your analysis. Firstly, you might consider the form of the poem, including what metre it has, what rhythmic pattern, and how the stanzas are separated. How do these affect the tone of the poem? How does the visual layout of the poem affect your reading of it? There are plenty of types of metre, the most common likely being iambic pentameter - 5 feet and a stressed syllable following an unstressed - yet syllables and feet can be constructed in a variety of different ways. Identification of these might be helped by reading aloud. The next question you might ask of the poem once the form has been identified, is where the metre and rhyme are altered, and for what reason this might be. What effect does an interruption of form have on the poem? In understanding form we can consider enjambment; how might a sentence running across lines either compliment or contradict the form? How does it affect the musicality of the poem? Alongside form we may consider word order; the poet might have positioned a word at the beginning or end of the line for emphasis, having subverted a usual sentence structure. Next, things like alliteration might be considered in contemplating the musicality of the poem, and how certain sounds run alongside the poem's tone; for example, a 'c' or 't' sound might evoke a sense of violence or harshness, whereas an 'm' sound might be more soothing, reminiscent of prayer. You can delve deeper technically by identifying the type of sounds they are, such as fricatives or plosives. Imagery is not something to be neglected, especially when considering metaphors or similes that might run extendedly throughout the piece. It might be worth considering what sort of colours crop up and what images. How expected are both metaphors and similes when one thing is compared to another? Is it a jarring, uncomfortable comparison, or a satisfying and pleasing one? Why might the poet have made this choice? A close analysis of the poem can be reached through running through these elements step by step and considering how each play out in the work, as well as how they compliment or play against each other.