How to Write a Poem Analysis
Poetry can be difficult for newcomers to comprehend. Still, understanding poetry can be an invaluable skill when it comes to writing papers, studying literature, and even writing your own poems. Writing a strong poem analysis can be daunting, but with time and effort, you can write a strong paper that will impress even the most scholarly of scholars.
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Instructions
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Writing a Poem Analysis
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1
Choose a poem. You can choose any poem you like, but usually this depends upon the assignment.
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2
Read the poem several times slowly. Even read it aloud. Poetry is meant to be read and reread, and odds are you won't catch all the small details the first time around. Take diligent notes and record your ideas as you read it, highlighting important lines.
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3
Study up on the author and time period. Learning about the poet can give you an idea of what he was thinking when the poem was written. Knowing the era can help you understand what was going on in the world at the time and what may have inspired the piece.
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4
Continue rereading the poem as you research and study its history. Eventually you should have enough notes to support your analysis.
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5
Write your analysis, supporting your points with the research you found and passages in the poem. Explain why the poem is about a certain thing using other people's research and citing it properly.
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Tips & Warnings
The more you read the poem and learn about the poet, the more accurate your analysis will be. The beauty of poetry is that it can be taken a million different ways. Keep this in mind and try to see things through the eyes of the poet as you write your analysis.
Don't plagiarize other people's research. This is illegal and could get you in a lot of trouble. When you use any source, be sure to give credit accordingly.
