Analyzing poems involves breaking them down into literary techniques, identifying the subject matter and themes, and looking for figurative language and structural elements. Researching the author’s background and other works can also provide clues. A thesis statement and examples from the poem are needed for a poetry analysis paper.
Analyzing poems can be difficult, but it gets easier with practice. It is likely that most students will be required to analyze a poem at some point in their school career. The best way to start analyzing poems is to start breaking them down into their component parts and identify as many literary techniques as possible. Sometimes, this will make clear what the author was trying to do with the poem, or how she was trying to make a point. The first step in the analysis is generally just to determine what the poem is about and what the themes are.
Identifying the subject of the poem at a very basic level might seem too simple, but it will provide clues for the rest of the analysis. Typically, analyzing poems is about figuring out what the hidden meanings are, but that won’t be possible without identifying the subject matter and themes. At times, it can be helpful to look at the author’s other works, or do some research on the author’s background, or the general time period in which the work was written. This can also provide clues about the types of topics he usually writes about or what other writers were doing at the same time.
Another great tip for analyzing poems is to look for figurative language and images. Most poems are loaded with this kind of language. Look for descriptive language, or metaphors and similes, used to compare one thing to another. For example, “she was as beautiful as a rose” is an example of a simile. Symbolism and personification are two other common techniques that can help identify when analyzing poems.
Also, look at the actual physical structure of the poem; the rhyme pattern or rhythm that is used throughout, where the line breaks are, and also how the poem is shaped on the page, as some writers use these techniques to shape the perception of the reader. Some writing techniques, such as alliteration, where the beginning of words in a sentence start with the same sound, are also a good idea to note.
Analysis of the poems will certainly require reading the poem more than once and trying to get some idea of it, as well as looking for all these literary devices. Some teachers or professors will have specific aspects that they want their students to identify in the poems, while others will leave that more up to the student. Generally, when writing a poetry analysis paper, you will need to come up with a thesis statement and then use examples from the poem to try and prove the claim.
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