How to Analyze Poems

Analysis of Poetry :: How to Analyze Poems

Updated on November 20, 2013

William Shakespeare is one of the most influential poets in literature.

Ten Most Famous Poets

1. William Shakespeare
2. Emily Dickinson
3. Shel Silverstein
4. Christopher Marlowe
5. Edgar Allen Poe
6. William Blake
7. Robert Frost
8. William Wordsworth
9. Langston Hughes
10. Walt Whitman

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Literary Analysis of Poetry

It may seem like doing analysis of poetry is easier than, say, analyzing books, but, don't be fooled by its size. Poetry, for most people, is one of the most difficult types of literature out there to analyze properly. Although it is usually considerably shorter than books out there, poetry can carry a lot within just a line or two, so understanding what it takes to do a proper analysis of poetry is worth the time it takes to really get it down.

One of the most essential things to remember is that doing literary analysis of poetry means that you are going to be reading that poem many times. The best way to get started on analysis of poetry is to read the poem once to yourself silently. In this first reading, do not immediately look for different literary devices or sound elements. All you really want to do it is get a basic understanding of what the poem is about. This can be the easiest step in literary analysis. Basically, you are starting broad and then, as you go through each reading of the poem, you are taking it apart bit by bit.

The second reading is most effective when it is done out loud. When you read out loud, you are able to catch those poetic sound devices that you may have missed when reading to yourself. Analysis of poetry is best when readings are done aloud so, from the second reading to the very last reading, you should do it out loud. This is not completely necessary, but, it makes for a better literary analysis of the poem.

When I do analysis of poetry, I use this same method, reading first to myself and then aloud. The first reading, I always focus on just what the poem is about and summarize what it is about to myself. Afterwards, I like to go through it stanza by stanza to work at my analysis. Literary analysis of poetry has always been my downfall when studying literature so it has always been something that takes me a lot of time and effort to do properly. The more practice, the easier it becomes and the less time it will take to catch all of those devices and other literary devices in the poem(s) that are essential to good analysis of poetry.

Sometimes writing down the questions you want to focus on before reading can really help narrow down your analysis for poetry.

Who is your favorite famous poet?

Which of the ten poets listed above is your favorite?

•  Shakespeare
•  Dickinson
•  Silverstein
•  Marlowe
•  Poe
•  Blake
•  Frost
•  Wordsworth
•  Hughes
•  Whitman

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Analyze Poems: Questions to Ask Yourself While Reading

So, you know that the first reading for the poem you are doing literary analysis for requires you to just be able to summarize what the poem is about. While you are looking for those poetic sound devices in that second reading, there are still a few other things to keep in mind when doing analysis of poetry. Here are some questions to keep in mind while you go through your readings to keep you on the right track to a great analysis of poetry:

1. What does the title tell you about the poem? The poem's title is essential to analyzing poetry because it can give insight into the poem before you even read a single line. Don't forget to set aside a couple of minutes to consider the title and what it tells you about the poem, such as the tone or subject the poem will have.
2. Have you done any research on the poet or poem?Understanding who wrote the poem and the story surrounding that particular poem can add a lot of insight as you analyze poems. Any critics for the poem can especially help you bring to light another analysis of the poem with new thoughts or ideas to help guide you to your own.
3. What is the author's attitude about the subject of the poem?
4. What is the poem about?
5. Who is speaking?
6. What is the speaker's tone?
7. What kind of imagery does the poem have? There are two major types of imagery to focus on when doing literary analysis of poetry, abstract and concrete imagery. The definitions for both of these terms are listed below.
8. What is the syntax of the poem?
9. What is the theme of the poem?
10. What is the rhyme scheme?

The amount of literary terms out there can be daunting but focusing on just a few can really help with analyzing poetry.

Poetry For Dummies

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Walt Whitman is one of the most influential poets in American literature.

Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman was very controversial in his time and is remembered as one of the most influential poets in American literature. He is also known as the father of free verse. Free verse is a form of poetry that does not use any consistent pattern or rhyme and follows the rhythm of natural speech.

Poetry Literary Terms

There are many literary terms out there, for both analyzing poetry and analyzing other types of literature. Here are some poetry literary terms that can come in handing when doing analysis of poetry.

1. Abstract Imagery: Abstract imagery is all about feelings and concepts that are open to interpretation for the reader. It is the opposite of concrete imagery.
2. Alliteration: An alliteration is when there is a repetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginning of words.
3. Allusion: An indirect reference to something else, such as another literary work, a person, or a historical event.
4. Assonance: Also known as a "vowel rhyme," an assonance is the repetition of similar vowel sounds within a sentence or a line of poetry or prose.
5. Caesura: A caesura is a break or strong pause within a line of poetry or prose.
6. Concrete Imagery: Concrete imagery is the opposite of abstract imagery. It aims to describe scenes and concepts with vivid descriptions that the reader can recognize and usually uses metaphors and similes.
7. Connotation: A connotation occurs when a word is used that has meanings associated with it that are beyond is regular dictionary defintion.
8. Dactyl: A dactyl is a foot with three syllables. It is a stressed syllable, followed by two unstressed syllables.
9. Deneoument: A deneoument is the outcome or resolution of the plot.
10. Denotation: A denotation is a word that has a direct and specific meaning.
11. Diction: Diction is the words that make up the text within a literary work or poem.
12. Elision: When an unstressed vowel or syllable is taken out of a word to keep the ryhme within the meter of a line of poetry.
13. Enjambment: When a thought runs from one line to the next without a syntactical break.
14. Figurative Language: This is the type of language used by writers to convey something beyond the literal meaning behind their words.
15. Foot: A metrical unit in poetry composed of stressed and unstressed syllables.
16. Hyperbole: A figure of speech involving obvious and intentional exaggeration that is not meant to be taken literally.
17. Irony: A contrast between what is said and what is meant, as well as between what happens and what is expected to happen.
18. Metaphor: A comparison between two things that are not alike, without using "like" or "as."
19. Meter: A measurement in poetry for rhythmic accents.
20. Onomatopoeia: Words that are used that imitate the sounds they describe.
21. Rhyme Scheme: Rhyme schemes are a pattern of rhymes in lines of poetry or song.
22. Simile: Similes are a comparison between two unlike things using "like," "as," or "as though."
23. Syntax: The grammatical order of words, phrases, and clauses in a sentence, line of poetry, or in dialogue.
24. Theme: The dominant idea of a literary work that is a generalization of the poem, book, etc.
25. Tone: The implied attitude of the writer or speaker in the poem or other literary work.

© 2013 LisaKoski