Reading and interpreting poetry can be challenging, but there are methods to make it easier. First, read the entire poem without interpretation, then read it again and interpret it. Pay attention to the title and figurative language, and consider deeper meanings beyond the superficial.
The interpretation of poetry can be somewhat difficult and complicated, although there are some methods that a person can use to make reading and understanding even complex poems easier. The first thing a person should do when reading a poem is to read the entire work from beginning to end without attempting to interpret it at all. After this initial reading, he should read it a second time, more slowly, and begin interpreting the poem. The interpretation of the poem can involve a number of processes, although care should be taken with the title as it relates to the content of the poem and any figurative language used.
The process of interpreting poetry can be intimidating for many readers, but it’s not necessarily as difficult as it might seem. Basic interpretation should be used to understand the poem itself on a superficial level, before proceeding to any deeper meanings. This can often begin with a simple, straightforward reading of the poem from start to finish, including the title. During this reading, no poetic interpretation should occur; the poem should simply be read to get a feel for the overall tone, narrative, and structure.
Once this is established, the reader should begin some interpretation of the poem during a second reading. As the reader studies the poem a second time, he should pay attention to the title and reflect on what it might mean now that the reader has read the entire poem once. The title could set the tone for the poem itself, or it could serve as a secondary structure intended to accompany the poem. It is also possible that the title provides the general purpose or meaning of the poem itself. If the poem is untitled, then the reader should consider why the poet did not give it a title and how that untitled might reflect on the wider interpretation of the poem.
This interpretation of the poem can then continue throughout the secondary reading as the reader pays more attention to the figurative language found in the poem. If the poet draws comparisons between two things, then the reader should consider how these two things relate and what the comparison reveals about each. A poem in which a rose is compared to a woman can have a simple enough meaning, as each is considered beautiful by the author.
A deeper meaning, however, may arise from further interpretation of the poem as the reader considers other aspects of a rose. The fact that a rose is accompanied by painful thorns, for example, or that a rose is cut and displayed to look pretty, but then quickly withers and dies. These meanings may broaden the initial comparison, depending on the other ideas presented in the poem, to indicate that the woman is beautiful and dangerous or that her beauty will fade too quickly.
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