Reading and Analyzing Poetry

Mrs. Elias 2014

Reading PoetryO Read the poemO Make connections with the poem to

understand its meaning and purposeO Read the poem again, aloudO Paraphrase the poem

Reading PoetryO TitleO SpeakerO FormatO Subject O Setting/situation (imagery)O Prepare for interpretation/analysis

Interpretation/Analysis Qs

O Does the title contribute to the meaning of the poem?

O What voice is heard?O Are there any unusual or difficult

words?O What is the main idea?O What connections are made?O Are there lines or stanzas that need

further explanation?

Interpretation/Analysis Qscontinued…

O Why is the format important?O How the poem relate to real life?O Is there intentional

meaning/symbols?O Does the structure of the pome help

to convey it’s purpose and meaning?O What does the poem ultimately do,

or mean, for the reader?

More…O Form? Patterns?O Rhyme?O Rhythm?O Lines?O Stanzas?O Figurative language?O Tone/Mood?O Imagery (five senses)?O Symbols/Deeper Meaning?

Think about…O What happens in the poem?O Do you enjoy the poem? Why? Why

not? O In today’s society, is the poem

relevant?O Was the author effective in

conveying his/her message through the poem?

O What is the theme?O What do you think?O What can you conclude?

A little bit more…O How does this compare to other

poems you have read?O Base on what you know, what can

you say about the poet’s life?O What info supports your

interpretation?