The document provides instructions for how to analyze a poem. It recommends first analyzing the title to make predictions about the poem. Students should then read the poem multiple times and paraphrase it in their own words. When analyzing, students should look for figurative language like similes, metaphors, symbolism, and imagery, as well as the tone and theme of the poem. The overall message is that there are steps students can take to effectively analyze and understand the meaning of a poem.

1. How to Analyze Poetry C5 English Ms. Omneya Abdelhamid Oasis 2011-2012

2. How to Approach Poetry Poetry may always seem very difficult. Most students may dislike or fear poetry However, it’s the easiest because there are never right and wrong answers. It is up to your interpretations as long as you can justify them!!!

3. Analyze the Title Analyze the title first. What do you predict this poem will be about? Write down your predictions.

4. READ THE POEM!!!! Read the poem more than once

5. Paraphrase the poem Paraphrasing is putting something in your own words. After reading the poem, rewrite it in your own words. Make sure you try to figure out what the difficult words mean.

6. Look for Figurative Language Analyze the figures of speech Similes Metaphors Alliteration Symbolism Hyperboles Imagery simile implied metaphor direct metaphor personification HYPERBOLE meter onomatopoeia RHYME alliteration ASSONANCE apostrophe diction

7. TONE Tone is the attitude of the speaker toward the subject of the poem. Happy Sad/ Depressed Intimate Aggressive Note that the tone may change throughout the poem

8. THEME Theme: The message of the poem What does the author want us to learn What is the poet trying to say about life?