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How to Talk about a Poem

Learning how to talk about poetry and being able to interpret what

poems mean is not the easiest thing in the world to do. Whendiscussing a poem two areas must be considered: meaning andmechanics.

• Meaning• Mechanics

First, consider the meaning of the poem.

1.   Paraphrase all the portions of the poem.2.   Precis the poem – either line by line or stanza by stanza.. !s there symbolism  used in the poem" #!f there is

symbolism$ understanding it is the key to understandingthe poem.%

&. !s the poem lyric or narrative"

To paraphrase the poem:

'. Look at the title. What signi(cance does the title ha)e inconnection with the meaning of the poem"

*. +ead the poem as a whole.,. +ead the poem stanza by stanza #if appropriate.%-. araphrase the poem line by line./. 0reak the lines down word by word if necessary. ubstitute

familiar words with ones you use e)ery day.

Helpful Hints!

1. 3onsider punctuation – a period signals the end of athought$ no matter where it is located in a line.

11. +ewrite sentences in the usual word order if thesentences are arranged in an unfamiliar word order.

http://www.cswnet.com/~erin/poem.htm#meanhttp://www.cswnet.com/~erin/poem.htm#mechhttp://www.cswnet.com/~erin/poem.htm#parahttp://www.cswnet.com/~erin/poem.htm#prechttp://www.cswnet.com/~erin/poem.htm#symbhttp://www.cswnet.com/~erin/poem.htm#lyrihttp://www.cswnet.com/~erin/poem.htm#mechhttp://www.cswnet.com/~erin/poem.htm#parahttp://www.cswnet.com/~erin/poem.htm#prechttp://www.cswnet.com/~erin/poem.htm#symbhttp://www.cswnet.com/~erin/poem.htm#lyrihttp://www.cswnet.com/~erin/poem.htm#mean

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Second, consider the mechanics of the poem.

12. !s the poem traditional with rhyme and rhythm" 4r isthe poem free )erse with no set rhythm pattern or rhymescheme"

1. 5ow is the poem organized" 6oes the shape of thepoem ha)e anything to do with the meaning"

1&. What poetic de)ices are used"#7hese listed are most common.%

1'. imile 8 (gure of speech that compares two unlikethings$ using the words like or as.

1*. Metaphor 8 (gure of speech that compares two

unlike things directly$ without the use of an inter)eningword.

1,. 8lliteration 7he repetition of consonant sounds at thebeginning of words.

1-. 8ssonance 7he repetition of )owel sounds in stressedsyllables.

1/. ersoni(cation 7he assigning of human 9ualities tononhuman things.

2. 4nomatopoeia 7he use of words to initiate sounds.;ect or idea.2. What is the tone of the author"2&. What mood does the poem create"

Denitions

o araphrase +estatement in di?erent@other words.o recis 3oncise ummary.o ymbolism 7he use of an ob>ect to represent an idea.o Lyric oems with a song like 9uality are usually short. oet

e;presses his personal reaction to things.o Aarrati)e oems that tell a story and are usually long. 8n

e;ample would be an epic or a ballad.o Mood 7he o)erall feeling a poem awakens in the reader.o  7one 7he writerBs attitude towards his@her work.

http://www.cswnet.com/~erin/poem.htm#tonehttp://www.cswnet.com/~erin/poem.htm#moodhttp://www.cswnet.com/~erin/poem.htm#tonehttp://www.cswnet.com/~erin/poem.htm#mood

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