It squeezes more meaning into fewer words.

It also uses rhythm, and techniques such as meter and simile.

It is often arranged in lines and stanzas as opposed to sentences and paragraphs.

It can be more free with word order and the use of punctuation.

1. Preview the poem. Read the title – it’s a great hint about the poem’s subject! Notice the poem’s form: its shape, its length of lines, and whether or not it has stanzas.

2. Read the poem aloud. As you read, see if there is rhyme; listen for rhythm, as well as overall sound of the words in the poem. Pause at the ends of complete thoughts, not necessarily at the ends of lines. Look for punctuation to find the end of a complete thought.

3. Visualize the images Picture the images and comparisons the poem makes.Do the images remind you of feelings or experiences you’ve had?

4. Think about the words and phrases. Think about what the choice of words adds to the poem. Allow yourself to wonder about any words or phrases that seem to stand out. They are probably emphasized on purpose.

5. Try to identify the theme.Ask yourself, what’s the point of this poem?What message is the poet trying to send or help you create?

6. Let your understanding grow.Often, poems need to be read more than once. Pay attention to first impressions, but reread to add to your understanding. A third or fourth reading might clarify some details you missed at first.

What does the path represent? Why do you think the speaker stood for

a long time examining both paths? Why does the speaker doubt he will

ever “come back” to this fork? Why does the speaker tell the story

with a sigh later in life? Why is the title of the poem not “The

Road Less Traveled”?

1. Form The way a poem looks or is

arranged on the page. Poets choose the arrangement of

words and lines deliberately. The form of a poem can add to its

meaning.

2. Lines Poetry is written in lines, which

may or may not be sentences. Can be devised of one word or

many words.

2. Lines Poetry is written in lines, which may or may not be

sentences. Can be devised of one word or many words.

Lines are often formed for their rhythmic flow.

May contain a common number of syllables as other lines.

May contain a similar rhyming pattern as other lines.

3. Stanzas (a poetry paragraph) Sometimes lines of poetry are

separated in to groups called stanzas

Stanzas are a way of grouping or dividing lines.

A poem may consist of one or many stanzas.

How many stanzas are in the poem “The Road Not Taken”?

What type of stanzas are in “The Road Not Taken”?

What is the rhyming pattern of the stanzas in “The Road Not Taken”?