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Poetry: How to Read a Poem

How to Read a Poem

Here are some questions to consider when you are reading and analyzing a poem.

Consider the Topic

  • What is the main topic of the poem?
  • Read a biography of the poet. Why do you think this topic is important to the poet? How has this topic affected the poet in their life?
  • What do you think the poet is saying about the main topic of the poem?

Consider the Language

  • Which words stood out to you? What did they make you think of? What kind of connotations do they have? When do you typically use that word?
  • Are any words repeated? Why do you think the poet is emphasizing them?
  • Is the rhythm of the poem fast or slow, choppy or lyrical, lots of vowels or consonants?

Consider the Imagery

  • Which images are used? How do they contribute to the “feel” of the poem?
  • Are any images repeated? Why do you think the poet is emphasizing them?

Consider the Form

  • Look at the structure of the poem (line breaks) and punctuation. Which images or thoughts are you meant to pause and consider?
  • Are there sentences within sentences, created by line breaks?
  • Do the line breaks end at a place in the sentence that makes you think the sentence will end in another way? What do you automatically think and how does the poet change it?
  • Does the poem have a shape that has meaning? How does that contribute to the meaning?

Consider the Speaker

  • Is there one speaker in the poem or are there multiple?
  • If there is one speaker, is the speaker always the same age?
  • Is the speaker the poet or someone else?

Consider Your Reaction

  • How did the poem make you feel?
  • What did the poem remind you of in your life?
  • What did you learn or get out of the poem?

Further Reading

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