Student Question

Can you suggest some poems that are easy to analyze?

Quick answer:

Some easy-to-analyze poems include "The Road Not Taken" and "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost, "Cat Speak" by Bobbi Katz, "My First Best Friend" by Jack Pretulsky, and "The Snake" by D. H. Lawrence. To analyze a poem, define unknown words, read it multiple times, identify literary devices, determine the narrator and perspective, and relate the title to the poem. Consider the poem's structure, message, and emotional impact.

Expert Answers

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There are many poems that are easy to interpret.  Here is a list of some poems that you might like:

"The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost
"Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost
"Cat Speak" by Bobbi Katz
"My First Best Friend" by Jack Pretulsky
"The Snake" by D. H. Lawrence

Here is a step-by-step procedure to analyze a poem:

1. Define any words that you do not know in the poem.

2. Read the poem through more than once.

3. If there were any lines that you did not understand, re-read those lines again.

4. Write down what you think that the poem means.

5.  Look for similes or metaphors.

6. Note who is narrating the poem.

7. Is it first or third person?

8. How does the title relate to the poem?

9. Does the poet use descriptive words to paint a picture?

10. Does the poem rhyme?

11.  What kind of poem is it? For example, a sonnet or a lyric poem.

12. Does the poem have a message to give the reader?

13. Find out about the author.  Is this poem about something in his life?

After spending an hour or so with the poem and finding the answers to these questions, you should be ready to retell what the poem is saying and what did the poet mean when he wrote it?

Interpreting poetry should be fun once you have tried it once or twice.  Remember a poem usually speaks to the heart rather than just the intelligence.  Look for the emotional aspect of the poem.

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