A guide on writing an effective poetry essay

1. Writing An Effective Poetry
Essay:

2. WRITING YOUR ESSAY:
• Writing an essay about a poem needs the same skills that apply to all essay
writing.
• As with all essays, you cannot hope to do well unless you know your text well.
Only then will you be able to develop a sufficiently strong viewpoint.
INTERPRETATION
You need to show that you have understood not just the poem's 'surface' meaning
- try to show knowledge of its layers of meaning and its more subtle messages.
LANGUAGE
You need to show you have understood how the poet has used language and
poetic devices to help create and 'shape' create subtle underlying messages.
STRUCTURE
You need to show you have recognised how meaning is developed across the
whole poem - as each idea is explored and builds up into a coherent whole.

3. Steps:
1. Read the essay question or title very carefully.
2. Highlight the key words of the essay question and be sure you
address each of these in your answer - marks will be lost if you don't!
3. Work out exactly what is required of you.
4. It is best to avoid generalised discussion of any kind in essays - always
be clear and be precise.
5. Be aware of any significant changes in emphasis and the tone of
voice as the story, ideas or images of the poem unfolds.
6. Figurative language creates 'figures' or images in the mind's eye.

4. FORMAT OF A POETRY ESSAY:
• All essay’s have the same basic format:
• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion
• A poetry essay is no different. Each paragraph must focus on a
different aspect of the topic. E.g. Diction, form, style, theme etc.
• The introduction and conclusion need to start and end the essay in a
clear manner.