Graphic. Punctuation
Phonetic Stylistic Devices
English Vocabulary
Lexical Stylistic Devices
Syntactical Stylistic Devices
Decoding Stylistics
Biographies
Guidelines
Analysis
Texts
Analysis
Analysing a Poem
The following steps will guide you in analyzing a poem:1. Read the poem thoroughly: firstly silently, then read the poem aloud several times, listening to the sounds of the words as you read them. Ask yourself what effect is created by the sounds of the poem.
2. Answer the following questions in your writing analysis:
Author: Who is the author of the poem?
Title: What is the poem’s title? Does the title suggest the poem’s subject or theme?
Genre: What type of poem is it? (lyric? narrative? dramatic? - what emotions are expressed? who is the speaker? what is the plot? who are the characters? what is used, a dialogue or a monologue? what is the setting?)
Form: is the poem divided into stanzas? how many lines are there in the poem? Is the poem written in a traditional form? Is the poem written in free verse? What does the poem’s form contribute to its meaning?
3. What is the theme of the poem? How is the theme revealed?
Devices of sound: metrical feet, rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, assonance, consonance, euphony, cacophony, refrain.
Imagery: What images of sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell are used in the poem to convey sensations and emotions? What do these images describe (exact moments, setting, mood, feeling)? What effect is created by these images?
Other elements: What is the overall mood of the poem? What devices create this mood?
Does the author tell you anything new about life or experience? Does he move or amuse you or make you think?
Be honest about your reaction to the poem,
but make sure that you back up your views
with evidence from the poem itself.
