Thursday, March 6, 2008

Analyzing Poetry

In the near future, I will be assisting a student with the brainstorming stage of an essay analyzing a poem. This has made me think of some tips for tackling this type of essay. Here is the list I have come up with so far. . .

-Pick a poem that you are passionate about. At the least, pick a poem that you really like or can relate to.

-Remember that poems say a lot in just a few words.

-Make notes of what the poem is expressing in each line or stanza.

-See if there is a relationship to the rhythm of the poem and the topic of the poem.

-Look for symbolism! This is often bountiful in most poetry.

Does anybody else have any tips?

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