Write an essay [on any of the recent poems] in which you discuss some element[s] of the poem: [see  elements from handout], compare two poems, or write a comparison of the poem to a short story. In order to write effectively about poetry, one needs a clear idea of what the point of writing about poetry is. The goal is to create a specific thesis about the poem/poems [what you believe is true], and quote from lines of the poem to support your thesis. I believe poem means this and I will show you why€¦

Remember, one of the best ways to write about poetry is to write a stanza by stanza analysis [part by part]. Write a body paragraph for each stanza in the poem€”analyze it. Things to write about:

Theme: One place to start when writing about poetry is to look at any significant themes that emerge in the poetry. Does the poetry deal with themes related to love, death, sickness, inspiration, beauty? Any other concepts? What other themes show up in the poem? Are there particular historical events that are mentioned in the poem? Or alluded to [allusion]? What are the most important concepts that are addressed in the poem?
Denotation/Connotation: What is the poem literally about [denotation] and what does it seem to symbolize? [connotation]. The denotative reading of a poem looks at the actual events of the poem [a man crosses a bridge]. A connotative look at a poem looks for the symbolism [crossing the bridge represents his movement out of his past and into his future, for example].
Versification: See handout on the subject [Patterns of Rhythm]. Write about the rhythms, meter, verse.
Figures of speech: Are there literary devices being used that affect how you read the poem? Here are some examples of commonly discussed figures of speech [see handout]: Symbols: where are the symbols and what do they represent, specifically?
Symbol: an object or event that suggests something beyond its literal meaning.
Metaphor: comparison between two unlike things€”using a vehicle to represent a concept.
Simile: comparison between two unlike things using like or as
Metonymy: one thing stands for something else that is closely related to it (For example, using the phrase the crown to refer to the king would be an example of metonymy, or White House for government.)

Synechdoche: a part stands in for a whole (For example, in the phrase all hands on deck, hands stands in for the people in the ship’s crew; or new set of wheels to refer to a car.)

Personification: a non-human thing is endowed with human characteristics.

Irony: a difference between surface meaning of the words and implications that may be drawn from them.
Allusion: reference to historical or literary events
Cultural Context: How does the poem you are looking at relate to the historical context in which it was written? These questions may take you out of the literature section of your library altogether and involve finding out about philosophy, history, religion, economics, music, or the visual arts.
Biographical context: Consider using biography as a starting point and write a paper in which you discuss the poem in relation to the author’s life. What was the author like? Does the poem represent his/her life?