Introduction to analysing poems
Check out these six ways
to analyze a poem.
1. Step One: Read.
Have your students read the poem once to themselves and then
aloud, all the way through, at LEAST twice. ...
2. Step Two: Title.
Think about the title and how it relates to the poem. ...
3. Step Three:
Speaker. ...
4. Step Four: Mood and
Tone. ...
5. Step Five:
Paraphrase. ...
6. Step Six: Theme.
Analyze a Poem in 10 Steps
Every poem is unique. Through this kind of
literature, the authors express their perception of the world around, influence
the readers, and share their most intimate emotions with the audience. This
literary work is always a masterpiece that can be analyzed through different
approaches, and you will find something new about it every time. But, there are
important aspects you shouldn't omit while analysing a poem. If at this point,
you ask yourself: "Are there any rules on how to prepare this
writing?", explore our simple strategy and succeed with analytical
assignment easily!
1. Start with Background
To perceive the overall writing better, devote your
time to the research. Before reading, we suggest you find any information about
the author or historical grounds of the work. This way, you'll get a better
understanding of the poem's basis. What if there was a particular event in the
author's life that inspired them to create this work? Or, what if it was
influenced by someone or something from the poet's surrounding (as in the case
with the Destruction of Sennacherib that was based on a Bible)? For these
purposes, you can use different books, articles, surf the Web, etc. Organize
the information you've found into a list with important points or groups (they
can be useful for you later).
2. Read a Poem
Although this suggestion is obvious, many students
prefer to read short descriptions of the poem on the Internet, and a simple
overview is enough for them. But, that's not so. If you read a poem, you will
stand on solid ground - know the plot from A to Z and can answer any of the
prof's questions. While writing an analysis, you have to work with what you've
read and describe the poem from your own perspective. Without thoroughly
reading the work, you'll have to blur the text by using a pity amount of facts
you really know about the poem.
3. Define the Type
Look for any specific features of the poem. It can
be a lyric, a narrative, or a sonnet, and your task is to understand what
exactly is a type of the poem you are working in. Be ready to explain your
choice by providing reasonable evidence (signs of a poem's type that you've
found). For instance, if a poem has 3 quatrains and one heroic couplet, it is
definitely a sonnet, etc. Be attentive since your competence in defining the
right type at this stage can influence the overall analysis.
4. Explore the Narration
Consider the tone set by an author. Is it a
first-person narration or does the poet tell us about someone/something else?
Pay attention to the words that can help you in defining the mood - is this
poem sad, melancholic, or inspiring? Think: does the poem use any calls for
actions or questions that need to be answered by the reader? Why do you think
the poet decided to use certain words or phrases? This way, you can identify
the accents of the literary piece and see what was emphasized by the author the
most.
5. Deal with Non-poetic Details
Define the meter and rhyming scheme of the poem.
Check if your previous investigation coincides with what you've got. That will
help you with a precise understanding of the work's type and fix any
uncertainties before they can affect the entire analysis.
6. Find the Main Theme
It's time to find out the core of the plot. If you
read the poem, it would be easy as 1, 2, 3 for you - here, you can describe the
setting, the period, and the major theme of the work. What is it about in the
first place? But, be attentive and ask yourself whether a plot has the literal
meaning that lays just beneath the surface. What if you have to dig deeper and
discover an absolutely new aspect of the plot that can change the entire
purpose of that literary piece? Here, the next stage can help you.
7. Study the Characters
While working on the characters, you kill two birds
with one stone:
·
You find various images and explain what they stand for.
·
The study defines major and minor storylines by analyzing the
interrelations between the characters.
Symbols found in the work
assigned for the analysis are also important and can be considered as a
separate character at this stage. Sometimes, a worn-out hat can represent a
whole society, and a pair of wings can be associated with a flight of fantasy,
etc.
8. Describe Your Impression
It is important not only to guess what was on the
author's mind but express what an assigned literary work means to you
personally. What are you thinking about while reading? Are there any
interesting images or memories that are popping up in your head? If a poem
inspires you, and you feel a strong desire to do something - mention it. Ask
yourself how the work resonates with your personality - that is a sign of a
good analysis.
9. Formulate the Intention
When you have gone through all the major points,
it's time to dot the i's. Sum up everything you have investigated about that
literary piece and pinpoint the main intention of the author. It could be an
attempt to turn the reader's attention to a specific social issue, a chance to
express the feelings through words or persuade the audience about a certain
viewpoint, etc. And, what is more interesting, does this intention coincide
with your own impressions? You can express your opinion about whether the
author has used the appropriate means for their purposes, and here, you can use
a citation needed to back your thoughts or refer to the other reliable sources
(don't forget to mention them in the bibliography).
10. Structure the Writing
Don't forget that all the parts of your analysis
should be arranged logically and coherently. The writing will definitely have
an introduction and conclusion, and your task is to state all your thoughts
appropriately with smooth transitions between them. Sometimes, it is even
possible to diversify your project with different materials (presentation,
images, videos, etc.) and make it interesting for the audience.
Keep in mind that although in this
guide, we have step-by-step instructions with extensive explanations, the
structure of your writing can vary according to the prof's requirements. Hence,
don't neglect discussing your preparation of the analysis with a monitor to
prevent any mistakes.
Referencehttps://www.bestcustomwriting.com/blog/10-easy-steps-to-analyze-a-poem
Comments
Post a Comment