Poetry analysis worksheet a step by-step guide to reading an

1. Poetry Analysis Worksheet
A step-by-step guide to reading and understanding poetry
1. Title
• If there is a title – does it define the subject matter of the
poem’s focus?
I think the title does define the subject of the poem because
most of the poem explains how even
though she could not stop for death, death stopped for her. You
can get an idea of what the poem
will be about by the title,
2. First Reading
• Rea
the narrative in the poem
impressions.
I get a calm feeling as a first impression because she speaks
about death in a kind way.
3. Re-Reading
• Read the poem again – carefully, analytically and out loud.

2. • Take note of punctuation; notice images that stand out; listen
to the rhyming pattern and
the rhythm of the words
This poem includes a lot of dashes and pauses. There are not a
lot of rhymes
in this poem.
4. Meaning
• Identify the obvious meaning and then look for implied
meaning (s). What do you think
the poet is trying to say?
I think the poet was saying that death is inevitable and not
scary, but normal and
calming. It is natural.
5. Consolidation – Putting it all together
• Read the poem again to consolidate your appreciation of its
meaning.
I think and appreciate the meaning the other was trying to give
but also appreciate how death took
her to places she had once gone through when she was a child
such as a park or just meaningful
places in general.

3. 6. Theme/s
• Identify the main theme of the poem
I think the main theme of this poem if morality.
7. Analysis
• Are there poetic techniques such as: similes; metaphors;
alliteration;
personification; onomatopoeia; assonance?
There are poetic techniques such as symbolism, maybe by the
house, imagery,irony, alliteration
and personification throughout most of the poem.
• Other structures such as: repetition; tenses; different voices;
different themes in

4. stanzas.
There is some repetition in the poem in lines 9,11,and 12 as she
says “we passed”.
• Use of vocabulary and language? (Find the meaning of words
you are not familiar with)
Most of the vocabulary in the poem was not very difficult, the
only word I did not understand was
Gossamer and tippet.
• Listen to the tone of the poem. What is it? Does it change?
Relaxed.
• What is the poet’s message or intention in writing this poem?
I think it was to show a different side of death and to explain
that it is natural and a cycle.

5. 8. Interpretation
• What issues are raised about society/relationships or life?
Issues that may differ with this poem is the fact that not
everybody feels so comfortable with the
thought of death as it is describes in this poem.
• Now use the above notes and information to write an
analytical essay about the
poem/s you have been analyzing.