how to write a critical analysis essay on a poem

A Full Guide to Writing a Perfect Poem Analysis Essay

01 October, 2020

14 minutes read

Author: Elizabeth Brown

Poem analysis is one of the most complicated essay types. It requires the utmost creativity and dedication. Even those who regularly attend a literary class and have enough experience in poem analysis essay elaboration may face considerable difficulties while dealing with the particular poem. The given article aims to provide the detailed guidelines on how to write a poem analysis, elucidate the main principles of writing the essay of the given type, and share with you the handy tips that will help you get the highest score for your poetry analysis. In addition to developing analysis skills, you would be able to take advantage of the poetry analysis essay example to base your poetry analysis essay on, as well as learn how to find a way out in case you have no motivation and your creative assignment must be presented on time.

What Is a Poetry Analysis Essay?

A poetry analysis essay is a type of creative write-up that implies reviewing a poem from different perspectives by dealing with its structural, artistic, and functional pieces. Since the poetry expresses very complicated feelings that may have different meanings depending on the backgrounds of both author and reader, it would not be enough just to focus on the text of the poem you are going to analyze. Poetry has a lot more complex structure and cannot be considered without its special rhythm, images, as well as implied and obvious sense.

While analyzing the poem, the students need to do in-depth research as to its content, taking into account the effect the poetry has or may have on the readers.

Preparing for the Poetry Analysis Writing

The process of preparation for the poem analysis essay writing is almost as important as writing itself. Without completing these stages, you may be at risk of failing your creative assignment. Learn them carefully to remember once and for good.

Thoroughly read the poem several times

The rereading of the poem assigned for analysis will help to catch its concepts and ideas. You will have a possibility to define the rhythm of the poem, its type, and list the techniques applied by the author.

While identifying the type of the poem, you need to define whether you are dealing with:

Lyric poem – the one that elucidates feelings, experiences, and the emotional state of the author. It is usually short and doesn’t contain any narration;
Limerick – consists of 5 lines, the first, second, and fifth of which rhyme with one another;
Sonnet – a poem consisting of 14 lines characterized by an iambic pentameter. William Shakespeare wrote sonnets which have made him famous;
Ode – 10-line poem aimed at praising someone or something;
Haiku – a short 3-line poem originated from Japan. It reflects the deep sense hidden behind the ordinary phenomena and events of the physical world;
Free-verse – poetry with no rhyme.

The type of the poem usually affects its structure and content, so it is important to be aware of all the recognized kinds to set a proper beginning to your poetry analysis.

Find out more about the poem background

Find as much information as possible about the author of the poem, the cultural background of the period it was written in, preludes to its creation, etc. All these data will help you get a better understanding of the poem’s sense and explain much to you in terms of the concepts the poem contains.

Define a subject matter of the poem

This is one of the most challenging tasks since as a rule, the subject matter of the poem isn’t clearly stated by the poets. They don’t want the readers to know immediately what their piece of writing is about and suggest everyone find something different between the lines.

What is the subject matter? In a nutshell, it is the main idea of the poem. Usually, a poem may have a couple of subjects, that is why it is important to list each of them.

In order to correctly identify the goals of a definite poem, you would need to dive into the in-depth research.

Check the historical background of the poetry. The author might have been inspired to write a poem based on some events that occurred in those times or people he met. The lines you analyze may be generated by his reaction to some epoch events. All this information can be easily found online.

Choose poem theories you will support

In the variety of ideas the poem may convey, it is important to stick to only several most important messages you think the author wanted to share with the readers. Each of the listed ideas must be supported by the corresponding evidence as proof of your opinion.

The poetry analysis essay format allows elaborating on several theses that have the most value and weight. Try to build your writing not only on the pure facts that are obvious from the context but also your emotions and feelings the analyzed lines provoke in you.

How to Choose a Poem to Analyze?

If you are free to choose the piece of writing you will base your poem analysis essay on, it is better to select the one you are already familiar with. This may be your favorite poem or one that you have read and analyzed before. In case you face difficulties choosing the subject area of a particular poem, then the best way will be to focus on the idea you feel most confident about. In such a way, you would be able to elaborate on the topic and describe it more precisely.

Now, when you are familiar with the notion of the poetry analysis essay, it’s high time to proceed to poem analysis essay outline. Follow the steps mentioned below to ensure a brilliant structure to your creative assignment.

Best Poem Analysis Essay Topics

Mother To Son Poem Analysis
We Real Cool Poem Analysis
Invictus Poem Analysis
Richard Cory Poem Analysis
Ozymandias Poem Analysis
Barbie Doll Poem Analysis
Caged Bird Poem Analysis
Ulysses Poem Analysis
Dover Beach Poem Analysis
Annabelle Lee Poem Analysis
Daddy Poem Analysis
The Raven Poem Analysis
The Second Coming Poem Analysis
Still I Rise Poem Analysis
If Poem Analysis
Fire And Ice Poem Analysis
My Papa’S Waltz Poem Analysis
Harlem Poem Analysis
Kubla Khan Poem Analysis
I Too Poem Analysis
The Juggler Poem Analysis
The Fish Poem Analysis
Jabberwocky Poem Analysis
Charge Of The Light Brigade Poem Analysis
The Road Not Taken Poem Analysis
Landscape With The Fall Of Icarus Poem Analysis
The History Teacher Poem Analysis
One Art Poem Analysis
The Wanderer Poem Analysis
We Wear The Mask Poem Analysis
There Will Come Soft Rains Poem Analysis
Digging Poem Analysis
The Highwayman Poem Analysis
The Tyger Poem Analysis
London Poem Analysis
Sympathy Poem Analysis
I Am Joaquin Poem Analysis
This Is Just To Say Poem Analysis
Sex Without Love Poem Analysis
Strange Fruit Poem Analysis
Dulce Et Decorum Est Poem Analysis
Emily Dickinson Poem Analysis
The Flea Poem Analysis
The Lamb Poem Analysis
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night Poem Analysis
My Last Duchess Poetry Analysis

Poem Analysis Essay Outline

As has already been stated, a poetry analysis essay is considered one of the most challenging tasks for the students. Despite the difficulties you may face while dealing with it, the structure of the given type of essay is quite simple. It consists of the introduction, body paragraphs, and the conclusion. In order to get a better understanding of the poem analysis essay structure, check the brief guidelines below.

Introduction

This will be the first section of your essay. The main purpose of the introductory paragraph is to give a reader an idea of what the essay is about and what theses it conveys. The introduction should start with the title of the essay and end with the thesis statement.

The main goal of the introduction is to make readers feel intrigued about the whole concept of the essay and serve as a hook to grab their attention. Include some interesting information about the author, the historical background of the poem, some poem trivia, etc. There is no need to make the introduction too extensive. On the contrary, it should be brief and logical.

Body Paragraphs

The body section should form the main part of poetry analysis. Make sure you have determined a clear focus for your analysis and are ready to elaborate on the main message and meaning of the poem. Mention the tone of the poetry, its speaker, try to describe the recipient of the poem’s idea. Don’t forget to identify the poetic devices and language the author uses to reach the main goals. Describe the imagery and symbolism of the poem, its sound and rhythm.

Try not to stick to too many ideas in your body section, since it may make your essay difficult to understand and too chaotic to perceive. Generalization, however, is also not welcomed. Try to be specific in the description of your perspective.

Make sure the transitions between your paragraphs are smooth and logical to make your essay flow coherent and easy to catch.

In a nutshell, the essay conclusion is a paraphrased thesis statement. Mention it again but in different words to remind the readers of the main purpose of your essay. Sum up the key claims and stress the most important information. The conclusion cannot contain any new ideas and should be used to create a strong impact on the reader. This is your last chance to share your opinion with the audience and convince them your essay is worth readers’ attention.

Problems with writing Your Poem Analysis Essay? Try our Essay Writer Service!

Poem Analysis Essay Examples

A good poem analysis essay example may serve as a real magic wand to your creative assignment. You may take a look at the structure the other essay authors have used, follow their tone, and get a great share of inspiration and motivation.

Check several poetry analysis essay examples that may be of great assistance:

https://study.com/academy/lesson/poetry-analysis-essay-example-for-english-literature.html
https://www.slideshare.net/mariefincher/poetry-analysis-essay

Writing Tips for a Poetry Analysis Essay

If you read carefully all the instructions on how to write a poetry analysis essay provided above, you have probably realized that this is not the easiest assignment on Earth. However, you cannot fail and should try your best to present a brilliant essay to get the highest score. To make your life even easier, check these handy tips on how to analysis poetry with a few little steps.

In case you have a chance to choose a poem for analysis by yourself, try to focus on one you are familiar with, you are interested in, or your favorite one. The writing process will be smooth and easy in case you are working on the task you truly enjoy.
Before you proceed to the analysis itself, read the poem out loud to your colleague or just to yourself. It will help you find out some hidden details and senses that may result in new ideas.
Always check the meaning of words you don’t know. Poetry is quite a tricky phenomenon where a single word or phrase can completely change the meaning of the whole piece.
Bother to double check if the conclusion of your essay is based on a single idea and is logically linked to the main body. Such an approach will demonstrate your certain focus and clearly elucidate your views.
Read between the lines. Poetry is about senses and emotions – it rarely contains one clearly stated subject matter. Describe the hidden meanings and mention the feelings this has provoked in you. Try to elaborate a full picture that would be based on what is said and what is meant.

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Poetry Analysis Essay Guide: Structure, Examples, and Writing Tips

Updated 04 Oct 2023

With its intricate language and captivating imagery, poetry has the remarkable ability to touch the depths of our emotions and provoke reflections. As readers, we often find ourselves captivated by the beauty and depth of a poem, but when tasked with analyzing and interpreting its layers of meaning, we may feel overwhelmed.

This blog post is your full poem analysis essay guide — you will get valuable insights and practical tips to navigate the intricate world of poetry analysis.

What is a poetry analysis essay? Quick explanation

A poetry analysis examines and interprets a poem to understand its meaning, themes, structure, language, and literary devices used by the poet. It seeks to go beyond the surface level and delve into the poem's complexities and nuances, uncovering its intentions, symbolism, and the overall effect created through the choice of words, imagery, rhythm, and other literary devices.

An analysis can change how you view the poem and help you see a deeper meaning, which helps to develop a greater appreciation for the artistry of poetry. To conduct a poetry analysis essay, you must engage with the poem on multiple levels, exploring its themes, emotions, and ideas.

How to choose a topic for a poetry analysis essay?

When choosing a poetry analysis essay topic, you should start by reading various poems and selecting one that captures your interest. Look for poems that resonate with you emotionally or intellectually or have themes or elements you find intriguing.

You can also look at its complexity and depth: a poem with multiple layers of meaning, rich imagery, and intricate language can provide ample material for analysis. Avoid choosing too simplistic or straightforward poems, as they may limit the depth of analysis.

Then, consider the thematic poem elements. Does it explore love, nature, identity, death, or social issues? Choose the one that addresses themes you find compelling or relevant, as it will make the analysis more engaging.

Remember, the topic you choose should be one that you feel passionate about, and that allows for a thorough and insightful analysis. It should offer enough material for exploration and interpretation, enabling you to delve into the poem's nuances and uncover deeper layers of meaning.

Poetry analysis essay outline with examples

An outline should include various sections to ensure a comprehensive and organized analysis — we added key rules and poetry analysis essay examples to guide you.

Introduction

The introduction sets the tone for the essay and provides the necessary context. It introduces the poem and the poet, establishes the focus of the analysis, and presents the thesis statement.

Include the following:

Provide the title, poet's name, and publication date.
Add brief background information about the poet and the poem's context.
State your main argument or poem interpretation.

Poem analysis essay example :

‘Robert Frost's poem 'The Road Not Taken,' published in 1916, is a widely celebrated piece of American literature. In this poem, Frost explores the theme of choices and their lifelong impact. Closely examining the poem's language, symbolism, and narrative perspective makes it clear that 'The Road Not Taken' challenges the notion of individualism and invites a reconsideration of the conventional interpretation.’

Poem summary

A summary of the poetry analysis essay provides a concise overview of its content and structure. It helps the reader grasp the key elements of the poem before delving into the analysis. You need to:

Summarize the content and structure of the poem.
Highlight key events, images, or ideas presented in the poem.

'The Road Not Taken' is a narrative poem consisting of four stanzas with a rhyming scheme of ABAAB. The speaker reflects on a pivotal moment in their life when faced with two diverging paths in a yellow wood. They ultimately choose the less traveled road, which proves to have a profound impact on their life journey."

Analysis of poetic devices

Analyzing poetic devices helps uncover the poet's intentional choices, which deepen the understanding of the themes, emotions, and overall impact on the reader. You need to:

Identify and analyze the literary devices.
Discuss their effects on the poem's meaning and tone.
Explore how the devices contribute to the overall poetic experience.

Metaphor: Frost uses the metaphor of the roads to symbolize life choices. By describing the two paths as 'diverged in a yellow wood,' he invites readers to consider the paths as representative of life's diverging opportunities. The metaphor emphasizes the significance of decision-making and the uncertainty that accompanies it.

Analysis of themes

By analyzing how themes are developed and conveyed, the essay reveals the poem's complexities and invites readers to engage with its deeper layers of meaning.

Make sure you complete the following:

Identify and explore the central poem themes.
Analyze how these themes are developed and conveyed throughout the poem.
Provide evidence to support your analysis.

Individualism vs. Conformity: Frost challenges the conventional interpretation of the poem as a celebration of individualism. Instead, he suggests that both paths were equally worn, implying that choices often appear more significant in retrospect. The poem raises questions about the role of individual agency and the influence of societal expectations in decision-making.

If you have ever worked on other types of analysis, like a literary analysis essay , you know that the conclusion needs to summarize the main points and findings. It reinforces the thesis statement and restates the significance of the analysis. Your job is to:

Recapitulate the analyzed poem's central themes, literary devices, and elements.
Restate the thesis statement or main argument and emphasize how the analysis has supported and illuminated it.
Discuss the broader significance of the poem and its analysis.

In conclusion, John Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale" transports us to a realm where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur. Through his masterful use of vivid imagery, melodic language, and introspective musings, Keats invites us to contemplate the ephemeral nature of life and the solace that art can offer.

Poetry analysis essay: full guide

While poetry analysis is essential, some students also get asked to conduct a literature review. You only need to shoot ‘ write my literature review ’ to get professional assistance and learn more. In this section, we will review key things you must include in your poem analysis essay.

By analyzing the title of a poem, you can gain insights into the poet's intentions, thematic focus, and overall tone and atmosphere. It helps create a deeper exploration of the poem's content and enhances your understanding of its artistic and emotional impact.

Consider the literal meaning. Start by examining the literal meaning of the title. Look for any keywords, phrases, or references that stand out. Consider the denotative meaning of these words and how they relate to the subject matter or themes you might expect to find in the poem.
Look for symbolism. Titles often carry symbolic or metaphorical significance. Consider whether the title has a deeper symbolic meaning beyond its literal interpretation. Look for potential connections between the title and the content or themes of the poem.
Examine word choice and connotations. Pay attention to the specific words chosen for the title. Consider their connotations and the associations they evoke. Analyze how these words contribute to the poem's tone, mood, or overall atmosphere. Reflect on whether the title reflects a positive, negative, ambiguous, or ironic tone.
Explore multiple interpretations. Titles can be open to interpretation, allowing for multiple layers of meaning. Consider different interpretations of the title and how they align with your initial understanding of the piece. Reflect on how these interpretations influence your overall analysis and understanding of the poem.
Reflect on the poet's intention.
Consider the poet's intention in choosing the title. Reflect on whether the title serves to summarize, encapsulate, or add complexity to the poem's themes or ideas. Analyze how the title may reflect the poet's artistic vision or provide a clue to their intended message.
Compare with the ending. Sometimes, the title of a poem gains additional significance or takes on new meaning when compared with the poem's ending. Analyze the relationship between the title and the final lines of the poem. Reflect on whether the title is reaffirmed, challenged, or transformed by the poem's conclusion.

While conducting poetry analysis essays, analyzing a poem's structure is a must. Here are questions that will guide you:

Determine the specific form of the poem. Is it a sonnet, a haiku, a ballad, or a free verse?
Are the lengths of the lines and stanzas consistent or vary throughout the poem? Reflect on how these breaks and variations contribute to the poem's rhythm, pacing, and overall effect.
Does the poem follow a specific rhyme scheme (such as AABB, ABAB, or ABBA), or if it lacks a regular rhyme pattern?
Are there any repeated words, phrases, or entire lines? Reflect on why the poet employs repetition and how it contributes to the overall meaning or effect of the poem.
How does punctuation affect the flow and interpretation of the piece? Does the poet use punctuation to create pauses, emphasize certain words or phrases, or convey a specific tone or mood?
Consider how the structure relates to its content and themes. Does the form enhance or challenge the poem's meaning? Analyze whether there is harmony or tension between the form and the subject matter and how this contributes to the poem's overall effect.

Tone and intonation of the poetry

By paying attention to the tone and intonation, you can gain insights into the poet's attitude, mood, and overall atmosphere. To analyze the tone and intonation in your poem analysis essay, read it multiple times, immersing yourself in the language and imagery used. Consider the following aspects:

Word choice. Look for words with strong connotations that evoke particular emotions or create a specific mood. Consider whether the words used convey a sense of joy, sadness, anger, or contemplation.

Figurative language. Analyze the poem's figurative language, such as metaphors, similes, and personification. Consider how these devices contribute to the tone and intonation. For example, using vivid metaphors may create a tone of intensity or heightened emotion, while gentle similes may convey a more tender or reflective tone.

Sentence structure and syntax. Note whether the sentences are long or short, fragmented or flowing. Consider how the poet's choices in sentence structure and syntax influence the tone and rhythm of the poem. Short, abrupt sentences may create a sense of urgency or tension, while longer, flowing sentences may convey a more contemplative or relaxed tone.

Analyzing the purpose of a poem involves examining the poet's intentions, motivations, and the message they seek to convey through their work.

Reflect on the poet's background, including their life experiences, cultural influences, and literary tradition. Consider the historical, social, or political context in which the poem was written. Analyze how these factors may have shaped the poet's purpose and influenced their choice of subject matter or themes.
Identify the main themes or ideas explored in the poem. Themes can range from love, nature, identity, social justice, mortality, or any other subject that the poet engages with. Reflect on the poet's purpose in addressing these themes and how they relate to the larger human experience or the poet's personal beliefs.
Consider how literary devices such as metaphors, similes, symbolism, or allusion contribute to the poem's purpose. Reflect on how they enhance the meaning, create vivid imagery, or add layers of depth to the poet's message.
Reflect on the impact the poem has on you as a reader. Analyze how the poet's purpose is conveyed through the emotional, intellectual, or sensory responses evoked by the poem. You can reflect on whether the poem achieves its purpose in engaging, enlightening, or transforming the reader's understanding or perspective.
Based on your analysis, formulate your interpretation of the poet's purpose. Just like with the critical analysis essay example , engage with the text and connect your findings to your own experiences, knowledge, or beliefs. It’s a good idea to support your interpretation with evidence from the poem, highlighting specific lines, images, or techniques that contribute to the poet's purpose.

Language and imagery

Analyzing the language and imagery of poetry involves closely examining the poet's use of language, vivid descriptions, and literary devices to create a rich sensory experience for the reader.

Imagery refers to sensory language that creates vivid mental images in the reader's mind. Pay attention to the visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory images created by the poet.
Symbols are objects, images, or actions representing deeper meanings beyond their literal interpretation. Analyze the symbols used in the poem and consider their significance and potential interpretations.
Poetic devices are techniques poets use to enhance their work's meaning, sound, and musicality. Analyze the following poetic devices and their impact on the poem:

Metaphor: Identify comparisons between two seemingly unrelated things without using "like" or "as."

Sample: "Her laughter was a melody that danced through the air."

Simile: Notice comparisons that use "like" or "as" to liken one thing to another.

Sample: "His smile shone like the sun on a summer's day."

Personification: Look for instances where non-human objects or abstract concepts are given human qualities or characteristics.

Sample: "The wind whispered secrets through the trees."

Alliteration: Identify the repetition of consonant sounds, particularly at the beginning of words.

Sample: "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."

Assonance: Notice the repetition of vowel sounds within words.

Sample: "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain."

Onomatopoeia: Identify words that imitate or resemble the sounds they describe.

Sample: "The sizzle of the frying pan filled the kitchen."

Analyzing the music of a poem involves examining the poet's use of sound patterns, rhythm, meter, and other musical elements to create a harmonious and melodic effect.

Poem's meter. Meter refers to the rhythmic pattern created by stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry. Analyzing it helps you understand the poem's musical structure and its effect on the reader.

Rhyme and rhyme scheme. Examine the poem's use of rhyme, including end rhymes (rhyming words at the end of lines) and internal rhymes (rhyming words within lines). Analyzing rhyme and rhyme schemes provides insights into the poem's musicality and the poet's deliberate choices.

Sound devices . Look for sound devices employed by the poet to create musical effects, including alliteration, assonance, and consonance.

Writing poetry analysis essay: key points

Read the poem multiple times to grasp its meaning and gather initial impressions.
Analyze the title and consider its significance in the poem's themes and content.
Examining poetry analysis structure, including its stanzas, lines, and rhyme scheme.
Analyze the language and imagery used, noting any literary devices the poet employs.
Consider the tone and mood of the piece of poetry and how they contribute to its overall message.
Reflect on the purpose of the poem and the poet's intended audience.
Formulate a clear thesis statement that presents your interpretation or analysis.
Develop the body paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect.
Support your analysis with evidence from the work, including quotes and examples.
Explain the significance of your findings and how they contribute to the overall understanding of the poem.
Conclude your paper by summarizing your main points and reflecting thoughtfully on the poem's impact or significance.

Poetry analysis essay template

I. Introduction

Hook: Begin with an attention-grabbing statement or question.
Context: Provide brief background information about the poet and the poem.
Thesis statement: State your main argument or interpretation.

II. Analysis of Title

Analyze the title's significance and possible meanings.
Discuss how the title sets the tone or introduces key themes.

III. Analysis of Structure

Examine the poem's structure, including stanzas, lines, and rhyme scheme.
Analyze the impact of the structure on the poem's meaning or rhythm.

IV. Analysis of Language and Imagery

Identify and analyze literary devices used in the poem (e.g., metaphors, similes, personification).
Discuss the effectiveness of the poet's language in conveying the poem's themes or emotions.
Analyze the vividness and impact of the poem's imagery.

V. Analysis of Tone and Mood

Identify the piece's overall tone (e.g., joyful, melancholic, contemplative).
Discuss how the poet's tone contributes to the reader's understanding or emotional response.
Analyze the mood created by the poem's language and imagery.

VI. Analysis of Themes and Meaning

Identify the central themes.
Analyze how the poet develops and conveys these themes through various poetic elements.
Discuss the deeper meaning or message conveyed by the poem.

VII. Conclusion

Summarize the main points discussed in the essay.
Restate the thesis statement and its significance.
Provide a final reflection on the poem's impact or enduring relevance.

Tips on how to write a poetry analysis essay

Embrace your emotional response. Poetry often evokes strong emotions. Don't shy away from expressing your personal feelings and reactions. Your emotional response can be a valuable entry point for deeper analysis.

Engage with the poet's background. Research the poet's life, experiences, and historical context. Understanding the poet's background can illuminate the poem's inspiration and add depth to your analysis.

Draw connections to other works. Compare the poem with other works by the same poet or poets from the same literary movement. Identifying common themes and stylistic choices can enrich your interpretation.

Visualize the poem. Create a visual representation of the imagery and structure. Sketching or visual aids can help you better understand the poem's patterns and symbolism.

Collaborate with peers. Discuss the piece of poetry with classmates or friends and exchange ideas. Engaging in group discussions can offer fresh perspectives and lead to new insights.

Apply real-life experiences. Relate the themes or messages of the poem to real-life situations or historical events. This approach can make the poem's meaning more relatable and relevant.

Challenge conventions. Feel free to challenge conventional interpretations or literary analysis norms. A fresh perspective can lead to a more unique and compelling essay.

In conclusion

By carefully examining the poem's structure, language, imagery, and themes, we unlock its secrets and profoundly understand the poet's intentions. Writing a poetry analysis essay allows us to explore our interpretations, connect with the poet's voice, and engage with the timeless and universal truths that poetry conveys.

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Written by Steven Robinson

Steven Robinson is an academic writing expert with a degree in English literature. His expertise, patient approach, and support empower students to express ideas clearly. On EduBirdie's blog, he provides valuable writing guides on essays, research papers, and other intriguing topics. Enjoys chess in free time.

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Writing About Poetry

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Writing about poetry can be one of the most demanding tasks that many students face in a literature class. Poetry, by its very nature, makes demands on a writer who attempts to analyze it that other forms of literature do not. So how can you write a clear, confident, well-supported essay about poetry? This handout offers answers to some common questions about writing about poetry.

What's the Point?

In order to write effectively about poetry, one needs a clear idea of what the point of writing about poetry is. When you are assigned an analytical essay about a poem in an English class, the goal of the assignment is usually to argue a specific thesis about the poem, using your analysis of specific elements in the poem and how those elements relate to each other to support your thesis.

So why would your teacher give you such an assignment? What are the benefits of learning to write analytic essays about poetry? Several important reasons suggest themselves:

To help you learn to make a text-based argument. That is, to help you to defend ideas based on a text that is available to you and other readers. This sharpens your reasoning skills by forcing you to formulate an interpretation of something someone else has written and to support that interpretation by providing logically valid reasons why someone else who has read the poem should agree with your argument. This isn't a skill that is just important in academics, by the way. Lawyers, politicians, and journalists often find that they need to make use of similar skills.
To help you to understand what you are reading more fully. Nothing causes a person to make an extra effort to understand difficult material like the task of writing about it. Also, writing has a way of helping you to see things that you may have otherwise missed simply by causing you to think about how to frame your own analysis.
To help you enjoy poetry more! This may sound unlikely, but one of the real pleasures of poetry is the opportunity to wrestle with the text and co-create meaning with the author. When you put together a well-constructed analysis of the poem, you are not only showing that you understand what is there, you are also contributing to an ongoing conversation about the poem. If your reading is convincing enough, everyone who has read your essay will get a little more out of the poem because of your analysis.

What Should I Know about Writing about Poetry?

Most importantly, you should realize that a paper that you write about a poem or poems is an argument. Make sure that you have something specific that you want to say about the poem that you are discussing. This specific argument that you want to make about the poem will be your thesis. You will support this thesis by drawing examples and evidence from the poem itself. In order to make a credible argument about the poem, you will want to analyze how the poem works—what genre the poem fits into, what its themes are, and what poetic techniques and figures of speech are used.

What Can I 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, war, or peace? What other themes show up in the poem? Are there particular historical events that are mentioned in the poem? What are the most important concepts that are addressed in the poem?

Genre: What kind of poem are you looking at? Is it an epic (a long poem on a heroic subject)? Is it a sonnet (a brief poem, usually consisting of fourteen lines)? Is it an ode? A satire? An elegy? A lyric? Does it fit into a specific literary movement such as Modernism, Romanticism, Neoclassicism, or Renaissance poetry? This is another place where you may need to do some research in an introductory poetry text or encyclopedia to find out what distinguishes specific genres and movements.

Versification: Look closely at the poem's rhyme and meter. Is there an identifiable rhyme scheme? Is there a set number of syllables in each line? The most common meter for poetry in English is iambic pentameter, which has five feet of two syllables each (thus the name "pentameter") in each of which the strongly stressed syllable follows the unstressed syllable. You can learn more about rhyme and meter by consulting our handout on sound and meter in poetry or the introduction to a standard textbook for poetry such as the Norton Anthology of Poetry . Also relevant to this category of concerns are techniques such as caesura (a pause in the middle of a line) and enjambment (continuing a grammatical sentence or clause from one line to the next). Is there anything that you can tell about the poem from the choices that the author has made in this area? For more information about important literary terms, see our handout on the subject.

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:

metaphor: comparison between two unlike things
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.)
synecdoche: 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.)
personification: a non-human thing is endowed with human characteristics
litotes: a double negative is used for poetic effect (example: not unlike, not displeased)
irony: a difference between the surface meaning of the words and the implications that may be drawn from them

Cultural Context: How does the poem you are looking at relate to the historical context in which it was written? For example, what's the cultural significance of Walt Whitman's famous elegy for Lincoln "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed" in light of post-Civil War cultural trends in the U.S.A? How does John Donne's devotional poetry relate to the contentious religious climate in seventeenth-century England? 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.

What Style Should I Use?

It is useful to follow some standard conventions when writing about poetry. First, when you analyze a poem, it is best to use present tense rather than past tense for your verbs. Second, you will want to make use of numerous quotations from the poem and explain their meaning and their significance to your argument. After all, if you do not quote the poem itself when you are making an argument about it, you damage your credibility. If your teacher asks for outside criticism of the poem as well, you should also cite points made by other critics that are relevant to your argument. A third point to remember is that there are various citation formats for citing both the material you get from the poems themselves and the information you get from other critical sources. The most common citation format for writing about poetry is the Modern Language Association (MLA) format .

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All About Poem Analysis Essay: Method, Outline, Template And Structure

“ O wild Wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn’s being,

Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves dead

Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing… ”

-Ode to the West Wind (Percy Bysshe Shelley)

What did you understand from the lines? That is exactly what you are asked to do while writing a poetry analysis essay. If you go through poetry analysis , you will understand how professionals decode each line of poetry to craft a flawless essay.

Analyzing a poetry is not an easy task. Knowing the correct technique, structure and ways to approach such pieces is crucial before writing. This blog will help you understand the various aspects of poem analysis essays.

What is a Poetry Analysis?

Simply put, poetry analysis is all about understanding the piece in depth and analyzing each element of the piece. When your professor teaches in class, you will see how they use different examples to describe each line of the poem. Similarly, when you are asked to do a poetry analysis, you are expected to do the same.

For example, if you look at the poem, ‘ Fire and Ice ’ by Robert Frost, you will see how the poet has used the words ‘ fire ’ and ‘ ice ’ to shed light on the disagreement in general society. When you are analyzing the piece, you have to consider each line to craft a perfect piece. A poet uses various elements to create the 'code' of the poem, and you have to understand each while writing the paper.

Students struggle to find the right words to explain the various elements of such pieces of art and often fail to write one perfectly. The following section will help you understand the various aspects of writing a poem analysis.

A Full Guide to Writing a Perfect Poem Analysis Essay

If you come across an example of an analytical essay on a poem , you will understand how professionals share a detailed insight into each of its aspect. There are a few things you need to understand before you start working on the essay:

Read and identify the type of poem

First, you must prepare yourself well before you start writing the essay. A major problem among students is that they jump to conclusions without going through the poetry. The first thing to do to ace such essays is to read it properly. It is equally crucial to understand the type of poem you are analyzing.

Look for more background information

Suppose you are asked to analyze a sonnet. Most of you would go on to explain how the poet has expressed himself in fourteen lines. But if you knew the origin of the sonnet and how the poet is using it to express his feelings, it will be more effective. That is why doing background research is important for proper analysis.

Identify the poem’s subject matter

One of the most challenging steps is to find the subject matter. Poets love playing with words, and they would never clearly state the subject of their creations. But you will not be able to justify the essay if you don’t understand the subject matter. To ensure you are on the right track, dig deep into the poem, and understand each word before reaching a conclusion.

Choose the theories you support

You will come across several theories when you look for information on a poem. Most students get confused and are prone to making mistakes while crafting the essay. You need to understand and choose the theory you feel is correct. It will be easy for you to justify the essay once you choose a theory you support.

In order to do all the things correctly, you have to learn how to do a proper analysis. The next section will help you know the best ways to analyze a poem.

Poetry Analysis: How to Analyze a Poem?

There are a few steps to analyze a poem. Once you have read the poem, you need to find out the various elements. How will you do that? Here’s an insight:

Map the rhyme scheme

The rhyme scheme helps you determine the type of poem you are analyzing. It will help you understand if the poem is a cinquain, an English quintain, a limerick, a Spanish quintain, a pentastich, a Sicilian quintain, a tanka or an envelope quintet. Analyzing a poem essay example shows how mapping rhyme schemes can help in the long run.

Scanning the poem

It is crucial to determine the poetry meter while working on a poem analysis. You might have come across the term scansion and how the process emphasizes understanding the patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables in each line. Learning the method will help you overcome the odds and craft perfect essays.

Analyze the poem’s language

Poets use various words to give meaning to their thoughts. To make sure your essay leaves a lasting impression on the readers' minds, ensure to analyze each word used in the poem. Understand the wordplays and how those are used in the piece. Also, ensure to identify the literary devices used in the poem to make the essay stand out from the crowd.

Identify the narrator

It is crucial to understand the narrator of the poem. Understand if the poem has a first-person, second-person or third-person point of view. The tone of the poem is a major element, and you have to know it to write a good poem analysis essay.

Once you have the necessary data, you can go ahead to create the outline of the essay. The next section will introduce you to the poem analysis outline.

Poetry Analysis Essay Outline

Probably the simplest thing in the entire poem analysis writing process is the outline. But before you let out a sigh of relief, understand how each section is crucial and what is expected from you. So, why do experts say the outline is the simplest thing? It is majorly because, unlike other essays, you need not understand too many things to create one. Here’s what a poem essay outline looks like:

Introduction

The introduction of a poem analysis essay contains details about the poem and its author . You are also allowed to include the date of printing if you want, along with some interesting facts about the author .

Body of the essay

This is the main section of the essay. You need to share all the information about the poem along with your analysis in this section. It is crucial to keep in mind that the body section must contain the various poem concepts along with quotes to support your views.

The conclusion is where you bring together the entire analysis and summarize the points to help readers understand the significance of the poem. Readers must understand your views and be encouraged to read the poem and relate to what you have said.

The outline will help you get a roadmap for writing the essay. Now, what are the correct ways to write an essay? The following section will give you an insight.

How to Write a Poetry Analysis Essay Step by Step?

Do you feel a poem analysis essay is all about putting across your arguments? You are not completely wrong, but there's more to it. It is important to consider a few more things to justify a poem essay. Here’s a look:

Understand your audience

If you look for an example of a poetry analysis online, you will come across many websites. Yet, you will choose the one that you feel is easy to understand. Similarly, when you write an essay, consider knowing your audience to write a perfect one. You need to choose the language that your audience will understand easily.

Make an argument

A poem analysis essay depends on your take on the poem. As mentioned earlier, you will come across a lot of analysis on the same piece. You need to make sure that your essay gives a new perspective and adds value to the existing discussion. Your arguments should have proper grounds and be supported with strong evidence.

Use quotes from the poem

The best way to grab readers’ attention is by using quotes from the poem. It is always good to support your arguments with quotes from the poem. You can also use them to explain your analysis and make an impact.

Before moving forward with the task, you must know the correct ways to choose a topic for your essay.

How to Choose a Topic for a Poetry Analysis Essay?

Choosing a topic is, again, a difficult task for students. You will come across many poems or topics in your academic curriculum, and it is tough to find the right one. Experts suggest that you choose one that you like. Out of many topics, you have to find the one that sounds interesting and is easy to decode.

The entire writing process depends on the topic you choose, and you must be very careful. You need to understand that the way you present the essay is important, and that depends on the topic you choose. Hence, make sure you understand the poem you choose to analyze. It will ease the entire writing process and help you craft a perfect one.

How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay for a Poem?

You need to dissect a poem and identify everything. One of the main components of a poem is the literary devices . The use of metaphors, alliterations, personifications, imageries, similes, and repetitions is something you need to identify and analyze.

If the poet has done justice to these literary devices and if they are used appropriately is highlighted in a poem analysis essay. You need to know the meaning of each of the literary devices before working on the essay. If you look at an analysis poetry essay example , you will understand how these elements play a crucial role in the process.

A literary analysis of a poem depends on how well you decode the use of these literary devices. You need to ensure that the readers understand your point of view and relate to what you are trying to imply.

Poetry Analysis Template

This is what a poetry analysis template looks like:

Author and title of the poem
Style: romanticism, realism, symbolism, Acmeism, sentimentalism, avant-garde, futurism, modernism, etc.
Genre: epigram, epitaph, elegy, ode, poem, ballad, novel in verse, song, sonnet, dedication poem, etc.
The history of the poem’s creation
The poet’s vocabulary: everyday, colloquial, bookish, neutral, journalistic
Composition of the work: Analyze the theme of each stanza minutely, highlighting the main parts of the poem and connecting the dots
Description of a lyrical hero
Your impressions of the work

While these things might sound easy, it is wise to avail online essay writing services while working on it. Any wrong or extra information will ruin your chances of bagging the best grades.

Getting worried about writing the piece? The examples in the following section will help you get the hang of it.

Poetry Analysis Essay Example

You need to refer to the right poetry analysis example to understand the best ways to write one. Many students have struggled to find the right place and are unable to do justice to the pieces. To ease your problems and help you sail through the process easily, here are a few poetry analysis essay examples:

The Education of Nature by William Wordsworth

THE EDUCATION OF NATURE (THREE YEARS SHE GREW)

Introduction:

‘ The Education of Nature ', also known as ' Three Years She Grew in Sun and Shower ', is part of William Wordsworth's collection, ' Poems of Imagination .’ The poet composed this poem during his stay in Germany in the year 1799. This poem is part of the famous group of ‘ Lucy Poems ’ written by the great poet. The poem earned the title ‘ The Education of Nature ’ in Palgrave’s ‘ Golden Treasury .’ The second edition of ‘ Lyrical Ballads ’ published the poem in 1800.

The poet explores various aspects of nature and how nature can be a good teacher through the eyes of Lucy. Now, whether the character Lucy was a real woman or just a figment of the poet's imagination is still being debated. That kept aside; the poem is one of the best creations by the poet.

The piece is narrated from a first-person perspective. The poet personifies Nature as a woman who is talking about the death of her three-year-old child Lucy. Since the poem is a first-person narrative, it is easy for readers to understand the story. It gives a clear insight into the speaker’s thoughts.

The poem might seem a bit strange to the modern audience because it celebrates the death of a three-year-old girl. As a defensive measure, the poet explains that Nature wanted to keep Lucy to herself and be a part of nature after death.

“ This Child I to myself will take

She shall be mine, and I will make

A Lady of my own .”

As you move on with the poem, you will see how the poet has used complicated conflict of imagery to shed light on the relationship between Lucy and Nature. The use of phrases like ‘ sun and shower ’, ‘ law and impulse ’, ‘ earth and heaven ', and ' kindle and restrain ' show the contrasting forces at work in nature.

The piece can also be analyzed from the poet’s perspective and his relation to the poetic project. If you dig deep into the time when the poem was written, you will understand that the poet was badly affected by the way French Revolution turned into a bloodbath. His will to record the lives of simple, forgotten people gave birth to Lucy, who became the beautiful child of nature.

Conclusion:

The poem talks about a beautiful story of a mother and her child. It shows how Nature wanted her daughter to live a long life after death. As Lucy becomes a part of nature, she begins to experience everything to become a mature woman. The essay will help readers understand how Wordsworth used various imagery and other literary devices to explain the relationship between Nature and Lucy.

This example of a poem analysis will give you an idea about the ways these tasks are handled. You can also access more such samples free of cost if you avail writing services for your essays .

Final Thoughts ,

Poem analysis essays are tough, but with the right guide, you can overcome the hurdles and submit a flawless essay . The points above can help you understand the nitty-gritty of such tasks. All you have to remember is that the poem you choose to analyze must not be too difficult. With deadlines knocking at the door, you cannot afford to choose a poem that you have trouble understanding. Further, follow the steps to write one correctly and look into each point to craft an outstanding essay .

Sienna Brown is a finance professional and accomplished essay writer in the USA. With a foundation in finance, Sienna adeptly navigates complexities, while her passion for effective communication fuels her essay writing. Her unique combination of financial insight and writing prowess reflects her dedication to both fields.

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How to write poetry analysis essay: from A to Z

All you need to know about how to write poetry analysis

That is obvious that every author, writer, or poet has some special and original style which makes him or her be recognized by others and that no one else can imitate: this is the way they describe their thoughts and ideas and explore multiple perspectives. A poetry analysis is basically a review of different parts of the poem to try to interpret the author's message which is usually conducted within a poetry analysis essay. And in this article, we will describe the step-by-step navigation of writing a good one – you only need to follow. But if you have the slightest problem writing this type of work, feel free to contact our professional academic writers for a nominal fee.

How to deal with a poetry analysis essay

Analyzing a certain poem normally needs to take a deeper look at all parts that make up a poem: structural, stylistic and functional. Every piece matters and your primary goal here will be to find and investigate the poet`s preferences and choices, the impact they made and their consequences. To have a better idea about the writer's purposes, you will have to:

Read the poem several times very attentively and make notes on the poet`s techniques;
Define the intention and find sense between the lines;
Apply your critical skills, and also use your imagination;
Prove your opinion and assumptions with text examples.

Things to do before you analyze poem

After you read the poem a few times and before you start writing a poem analysis essay, try to identify such things as:

Topic and genre. Is the poem about care, love, war, death, hope, joy or peace? Does the author mention any historical events or literary movements? What are the main topic and issues?
Verification. What about the rhyme scheme used in a poem and its meter?
Type. Is it a sonnet like Shakespeare topics , limerick, ode or maybe a free verse?
Stylistic devices. Does the author use any metaphors, irony or personification? How does it help to convey his/her message?

Poetry analysis essay structure and style

Poem analysis essay: topic and outline

Before starting your essay about poetry, you have to embrace a topic to deal with. A good idea will be to pick a poem that you already know and like that will help you focus and provide good arguments. Don't choose any weird pieces you have never heard before just to stand out from other students in your group: it is likely to be very complicated to analyze, hard to understand and you will definitely fail to interpret the writer`s message and deliver a well-structured essay that will reveal all the components of the poem.

A little tip: before choosing a poem, try to imagine a thesis and see whether you can offer an argument for this problem. Choose the one that makes you feel self-assured.

After this is done, it's time for a poetry analysis essay outline: that will be your guideline for building an essay and your first draft. Your mini-plan of a standard 5-paragraph poetry analysis essay may look like the following:

General analysis where you should talk about the form (rhymes and rhythm), imagery (metaphors, irony, and other expressive means), vocabulary (words that transfer the key idea, tone, and music) and punctuation marks (tone and emotions of the poem);
Line-by-line analysis;
Summing up (talking about meaning and overall impression).

Poetry analysis essay: structure and style

Based on the poetry analysis essay outline , your paper should have a standard structure of all essays on poems: introduction, the main body, and conclusion.

Introduction . This part should include a title, some catchy starting sentence, key details about the biography and the poem and a strong thesis. A well-written introduction hooks the reader up, so the first sentence should attract attention: for example, use a citation or a tricky fact. Make sure to add such elements as the author`s name, poem`s title, and background information. Your introduction should be really short and meaningful followed by a strong thesis statement;
The main body . This is the largest part where you have to investigate the true hidden definition of the poem and message, understand the tone, rhythm, pay attention to the language, find symbolism and examples of imagery. Present the main information of your essay on poetry so everything should be structured clearly with the focus on key elements. Even though this is the poem, rules are the same: one piece needs to be devoted to one topic. Not keeping this structure, your poem analysis essay is going to look disorganized and quite challenging to read. Avoid generalizations and use smooth transitions between the paragraphs to make sure there is a logical flow;
Conclusion . This is when you have to sum up everything you investigated and write a great conclusion with a statement provoking readers to think further. Although the most descriptive paragraphs are over, a powerful conclusion should not be underestimated. Paraphrasing the thesis will remind the readers about the goal of the essay and keep them focused. Then, provide a brief summary referring to the wider context. No new ideas should be introduced.

In addition to a proper structure, your essay should correspond with style analysis essays requirements such as proper formatting and citations.

Poetry analysis essay example

To understand the process of writing better, use poetry analysis essay example to navigate on the structure and see the way everything is described. It can become your writing guide as nothing is more useful than an already written analysis of a certain poem. A good poetry analysis essay example will show you how to organize and where to present different elements of your essay to make it more relevant: such examples you can find here on our website .

Writing tips on how to analyze poem

If this is your first poem analysis, there are some writing tips on how to analyze a poem that can narrow down your focus and help to deliver a great essay:

Add value. Try to make your analysis useful for the reader, provide your ideas and recommendations on how to improve the poem, point out the moments where the writer was not clear and give concrete advice;
Look for symbols in the lines. Poetry is all made of symbols so you have to carefully look to notice them and get the true definition of the poem. Uncovering hidden moments will show that you put a lot of time and effort to understand the content;
Be positive. Provide your opinion but avoid a negative voice. If you have to say something like that, give supporting evidence to prove your point;
Check the conclusion. It should contain a single idea as multiple ones will only make the reader confused;
Read to someone else or just aloud. You can take up the poem with others and discover new things you have not noticed before.

Essay Papers Writing Online

Master the art of writing a dynamic poetry analysis essay to impress your readers.

Poetry has always been a captivating form of artistic expression, allowing writers to paint vivid pictures with their words and evoke emotions that resonate with readers. In the realm of literary analysis, dissecting a poem requires a delicate balance between unraveling its hidden meanings and appreciating its inherent beauty. Despite its challenging nature, the process of examining and interpreting poetry is an enriching endeavor that deepens our understanding of human experiences and the power of language.

When embarking on a poetry analysis, one must embark on a journey through the intricate labyrinth of metaphors, symbols, and thematic elements. This expedition involves not only deciphering the literal meaning of each line and stanza, but delving into the poet’s intended message hidden between the lines. It is here in the space between words that the magic truly happens, as the poet weaves a tapestry of emotions and ideas that beg to be explored and understood. Immersing oneself in the world of poetry analysis is an opportunity to engage with language on a whole new level and discover the deeper layers of meaning that lie beneath the surface.

As with any intellectual pursuit, a systematic approach is key to successfully analyze a poem. It requires careful reading and rereading, scrutinizing each word and phrase for its significance and possible interpretations. This meticulous examination allows us to uncover the poet’s craft, revealing the deliberate choices in diction, rhythm, and structure that shape the overall impact of the poem. Through the process of analysis, we gain insights into the poet’s perspective, the historical and cultural context in which the poem was written, and the thematic threads that connect it to the broader tapestry of literature.

The art of poetry analysis is not only an academic exercise; it is an act of discovery and personal reflection. It challenges us to think critically, to question our assumptions, and to explore the complexities of the human condition. By engaging with poetry on a deeper level, we develop our analytical skills, expand our knowledge of literary devices, and enhance our ability to engage with complex texts. Whether you are a student, a writer, or simply a lover of words, delving into the world of poetry analysis is a journey that will forever transform the way you perceive and appreciate the written word.

Choose a Poem

Before embarking on your poetry analysis essay journey, you need to choose a poem that resonates with you and sparks your curiosity. Select a poem that speaks to your emotions, connects to your personal experiences, or explores a theme that interests you. The poem you choose will be the foundation of your analysis, so it is crucial to find one that you can engage with and delve into.

When selecting a poem, consider its form, style, and language. Do you prefer traditional, structured poems like sonnets or odes, or do you lean towards free verse and experimental forms? Are you drawn to poems with complex metaphors and imagery or ones that convey emotions through simple, straightforward language? Reflect on your preferences and choose a poem that aligns with your artistic sensibilities.

Furthermore, consider the poet’s background and historical context. Understanding the poet’s life, influences, and the time period in which the poem was written can provide valuable insights into its meaning and significance. Research the poet’s biography, read other works by the poet, and explore the literary movements or events that may have influenced their writing.

Remember, the poem you choose should be something that ignites your passion and curiosity. By selecting a poem that resonates with you, you will be better equipped to analyze its themes, explore its poetic devices, and uncover its hidden meanings. So take your time, read various poems, and choose the one that speaks to your soul.

Read and Understand the Poem

One of the crucial steps in analyzing poetry is to carefully read and fully understand the poem. This process involves immersing yourself in the poetic language, capturing the essence of the poet’s thoughts and emotions, and uncovering the underlying meanings and themes hidden within the verses.

When you first encounter a poem, take your time to read it slowly and attentively. Pay attention to the words, phrases, and imagery used by the poet. Consider the overall structure and form of the poem, as well as the rhythm and meter if applicable. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere created by the poet and let the words and emotions resonate with you.

As you continue to read and engage with the poem, keep an open mind and be willing to explore different interpretations. Poetry often offers multiple layers of meaning, allowing for various perspectives and insights. Look beyond the surface and delve into the deeper layers to understand the poet’s intention and the messages conveyed.

Understanding the context in which the poem was written can also be helpful in comprehending its meaning. Research the poet’s background, historical events, or cultural influences that may have influenced the creation of the poem. This additional knowledge can provide valuable insights into the themes and symbols employed in the poem.

Overall, the process of reading and understanding the poem is a crucial first step in analyzing and appreciating its literary value. Delve into the poet’s words, embrace their emotions, and unravel the hidden meanings to truly appreciate the beauty and complexity of the poem.

Identify the Theme

One of the key aspects of analyzing a poem is identifying its underlying theme. The theme of a poem refers to the central idea or message that the poet is trying to convey. It is the underlying concept or concept that ties all the elements of the poem together. By identifying the theme of a poem, you can gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and purpose.

When identifying the theme of a poem, it is important to look beyond the literal meaning of the words and consider the emotions, imagery, and symbols that the poet is using. Themes can range from common and universal concepts such as love, death, or nature, to more specific and unique ideas. Pay attention to the recurring images, motifs, or metaphors in the poem, as they can often provide clues to its theme.

Read the poem multiple times to familiarize yourself with its content and structure.
Pay attention to the use of language, word choice, and imagery.
Consider the tone and mood of the poem.
Look for patterns or repetitions in the poem.
Think about the emotions evoked by the poem.

Identifying the theme of a poem requires careful analysis and interpretation. It is a subjective process that can vary depending on the reader’s perspective. As you delve deeper into the poem, consider how the theme relates to the poet’s experiences, societal context, or broader themes in literature. Remember that a thorough understanding of the theme is essential for an effective analysis of the poem.

Analyze the Poem’s Structure

When examining a poem, it is essential to take a close look at its structure as it plays a significant role in conveying the poet’s message and enhancing the overall impact of the piece. The structure of a poem refers to the organization and arrangement of its lines, stanzas, and other elements such as rhyme scheme and meter. By analyzing the poem’s structure, readers can gain insights into the poet’s intent, themes, and emotional impact.

Lines and Stanza: One aspect to consider when analyzing the structure of a poem is the arrangement of lines and stanzas. Pay attention to the number of lines in each stanza and how they are grouped together. Are there regular patterns or variations? Is there a specific rhyme scheme or consistent meter? These structural choices directly influence the rhythm and flow of the poem, which can evoke specific emotions or enhance the poem’s themes.

Rhyme Scheme and Meter: Rhyme scheme refers to the pattern of rhymes in a poem, while meter refers to the rhythmic structure created by the poet. Both rhyme scheme and meter can contribute to the overall musicality and aesthetic appeal of a poem. Identify any patterns in the rhyme scheme, such as AABB or ABAB, and analyze how they contribute to the poem’s meaning. Additionally, pay attention to the meter, whether it follows a regular pattern or varies throughout the poem. The choice of rhyme scheme and meter can highlight certain words, establish a particular tone, or create a sense of harmony or discordance within the poem.

Visual and Structural Elements: Beyond the arrangement of lines and stanzas, consider any visual or structural elements that may be present in the poem. Look for any unique formatting choices, such as the use of indentation, line breaks, or white space. These visual elements can provide additional meaning and enhance the reader’s interpretation. Moreover, examine the length and brevity of lines and stanzas, as well as the overall length of the poem. These choices can impact the pacing, intensity, and overall impact of the poem.

Analyze the Poem’s Structure with Intention: Remember that the poet’s use of structure is purposeful. Each decision made regarding the poem’s structure can serve a specific function. Therefore, it is crucial to analyze the structure in relation to the poem’s themes, imagery, and language. Consider how the structure contributes to the overall meaning and emotional impact of the poem. By closely examining the poem’s structure, readers can deepen their understanding and appreciation of the poet’s craft and the power of poetry itself.

Examining the Use of Language

In this section, we will explore how language is utilized in poetry to create meaning, atmosphere, and emotion. By delving into the nuances of word choice, figurative language, and other stylistic devices, we can gain a deeper understanding of a poem’s message and the poet’s intent.

One of the key elements of poetry is the careful selection of words. Poets choose their language deliberately, selecting words that carry specific connotations and shades of meaning. By examining the chosen words in a poem, we can uncover hidden layers of significance and better grasp the poet’s intended message.

Figurative language, such as metaphors, similes, and personification, is another powerful tool in the poet’s arsenal. By comparing two seemingly unrelated things or attributing human qualities to inanimate objects, poets can create vivid imagery and evoke strong emotions. By carefully analyzing the poet’s use of figurative language, we can uncover deeper layers of meaning and appreciate the richness of the poet’s expression.

The use of sound devices, such as rhyme, rhythm, and alliteration, also plays a significant role in shaping a poem. Poets often carefully craft their works with attention to the musicality and flow of their words. By examining the patterns of sounds and the repetition of certain phonetic elements, we can better appreciate the poem’s aesthetic qualities and how they contribute to the overall effect.

Language is the poet’s medium, and by examining its use in a poem, we can gain insight into the poet’s intentions, emotions, and worldview. Understanding the choices made by the poet in terms of words, figurative language, and sound devices allows us to unravel the layers of meaning in a poem and appreciate the artistry behind it.

Interpret the Imagery and Symbols

When analyzing poetry, it is important to pay close attention to the imagery and symbols used by the poet. These elements can add depth and complexity to the poem, as they often convey meaning beyond the literal interpretation of the words.

Imagery refers to the use of vivid and descriptive language to create mental images in the reader’s mind. It can involve the use of sensory details such as sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. By carefully examining the imagery in a poem, you can uncover hidden meanings and gain a deeper understanding of the poet’s intentions.

Symbols, on the other hand, are objects, actions, or ideas that represent something else. They can be concrete, such as a rose symbolizing love, or abstract, such as a storm representing conflict or turmoil. Symbols can be subtle and require careful analysis to fully grasp their significance.

To interpret the imagery and symbols in a poem, begin by identifying specific examples within the text. Look for recurring themes or motifs, and consider how they contribute to the overall meaning of the poem. Ask yourself what emotions or ideas the imagery and symbols evoke, and how they enhance the reader’s understanding of the poem.

Remember that interpreting imagery and symbols is subjective, and different readers may have different interpretations. It is important to support your analysis with evidence from the poem, such as specific lines or stanzas, to strengthen your argument.

– Pay close attention to the imagery and symbols used in the poem.

– Imagery involves the use of sensory details to create mental images.

– Symbols are objects or ideas that represent something else.

– Look for recurring themes and motifs.

– Remember that interpretation is subjective and should be supported by evidence from the poem.

Craft Your Essay

In this section, we will explore the art of crafting your essay. Now that you have analyzed the poem and gathered your observations and ideas, it is time to put them together in a well-structured and cohesive essay.

When crafting your essay, it is important to have a clear and concise thesis statement that presents your main argument or interpretation of the poem. This thesis statement will serve as the guiding principle for your entire essay, so make sure it is strong and focused. As you develop your arguments, use evidence from the poem to support your claims and provide examples that illustrate your points.

Consider the structure of your essay. Start with an introduction that provides background information about the poet and the poem, and clearly states your thesis. Then, in the body paragraphs, delve into your analysis, exploring different aspects of the poem and discussing how they contribute to its overall meaning. Use topic sentences to introduce each new point and ensure a clear flow of ideas throughout your essay.

In addition to analyzing the poem itself, don’t forget to consider the broader context in which it was written. Take into account the historical, social, and cultural factors that may have influenced the poet, and discuss how these factors contribute to the poem’s themes and messages.

Finally, conclude your essay by briefly summarizing your main points and restating your thesis in a fresh and insightful way. Leave your reader with a strong impression and a deeper understanding of the poem.

Crafting your essay is an opportunity to showcase your critical thinking and analytical skills. Remember to pay attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation to ensure that your writing is polished and professional. With careful crafting, your essay will shine and effectively convey your interpretation of the poem.

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13.4: Sample essay on a poem

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Example: Sample essay written on a Langston Hughes' poem

The following essay is a student’s analysis of Langston Hughes’ poem “I, Too” (poem published in 1926) I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table When company comes. Nobody’ll dare Say to me, “Eat in the kitchen,” Then. Besides, They’ll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed — I, too, am America.

Last name 1

Student Name

Professor Name

English 110

All paragraphs directly prove the thesis ( ). How? Each paragraph uses the PIE paragraph approach: each starts with the (an arguable topic sentence that directly proves the thesis and states the one point that will be addressed in that paragraph; then from the poem is used in the form paraphrases and smoothly integrated quotes; then this is followed with telling "so what?" is the importance/significance?

Creating Change by Changing Minds

When I log onto Facebook nowadays and scroll through my feed, if it's not advertisements, it's posts talking about the injustices of the world, primarily from racism. These posts are filled with anger and strong hostility. I'm not saying anger is the wrong emotion to feel when faced with injustice, but when that hostility is channeled into violence, this does not bring about justice or change. Long lasting and effective change can only be made through non-violent methods, which is demonstrated by Langston Huges in his poem, "I, Too." In this short poem, Hughes gives many examples of how to effectively and on-violently address and combat racism.

Huges first uses people's religious morality to enlist his readers to resist racism. He starts the poem with his black narrator asserting, "I am the darker brother" (2). Brother to whom? In the Christian religion, a predominate religion during the times of slavery in the U.S and beyond, the terms brother and sister are used to show equality and kinship, and this human connection transcends race. Everyone is equal as children of God, and are all heirs to the promises of divine love and salvation. Simply by the black narrator calling himself a brother, Hughes is attempting to appeal to white Christian Americans, and to deny this connection is to go against the teachings in the Bible about brotherhood. This is very powerful in multiple ways. Firstly, establishing a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie should make anyone who tarnishes that unity feel ashamed. Secondly if anyone truly wishes to receive God's mercy, they would have to treat everyone as equals, or be punished by God, or even be denied eternal life in heaven all together. This technique is effective and long-lasting because the fear or violence inflicted on a person is temporary, but damnation is eternal.

Hughes further combats racism, not through threats of uprisings or reprisals, but rather by transforming hatred into humor and positivity. In response to his segregation, the narrator says, "They send me to eat in the kitchen/When company comes,/But I laugh,/And eat well/And grow strong" (3-7). With this, Hughes rises about racial exclusion and asks his reader to see it for what it is, ridiculous. He also shows how to effectively combat this injustice which is to learn from it and to feel empowered by not letting racists treatment from others hurt, define or hold you back. Additionally, this approach is an invitation to Hughes' white readers to be "in on the joke" and laugh at the mindless and unwarranted exclusion of this appealing and relatable person who is full of confidence and self-worth. Through his narrator, Hughes diffuses racial tensions in an inclusive and non-threatening way, but the underlying message is clear: equality is coming soon. We know he believes this when the poem's speaker states, "Tomorrow,/I'll be at the table/When company comes" (8-10). There is a strong assertion here that racism will not be permitted to continue, but the assertion is not a threat. Hughes carefully navigates the charged issue of racial unity here, particularly at the time he wrote this poem when segregation was in many places in the U.S. the law. The different forms of segregation-emotional, physical, financial, social-that blacks have suffered has and continues to result in violence, but Hughes here shows another path. Highes shows that despite it all, we can still make amends and site down at a table together. As a human family, we can overcome our shameful past by simply choosing to peacefully come together.

Finally Hughes uses American patriotism as a powerful non-violent method to unite his readers to combat racism. The poem concludes, "Besides,/They'll see how beautiful I am/And be ashamed-/I, too, am American" (15-18). Notice how he uses the word American and not American. He is not simply just an inhabitant of America he IS American in that he represents the promise, the overcoming of struggle, and the complicated beauty that makes up this country. He is integral to America's past, present and future. He is, as equally as anyone else, a critical piece in America's very existence and pivotal to its future. As Hughes united his readers through religion and the use of "brother," here he widens the net beyond religion and appeals to all Americans. As we say in our pledge of allegiance, we stand "indivisible with liberty and justice for all." To hate or exclude someone based on race, therefore, is to violate the foundational and inspirational tenants of this country. Hughes does not force or attack in his poem, and he does not promise retribution for all the harms done to blacks. He simple shows that racism in incompatible and contradictory to being truly American, and this realization, this change of heart, is what can bring about enduring change.

It has been shown over and over that violence leads to more violence. Violence might bring about change temporarily, but when people are stripped of choice, violence will reassert itself. Some of the most dramatic social movements that have brought about real change have used non-violent means as seen in Martin Luther King Jr's non-violent protests helping to change U.S. laws and ensure Civil Rights for all, as seen in Gandhi's use of non-violent methods to rid India of centuries of oppressive British rule, and as seen in Nelson Mandela's persistent and non-violent approaches of finally removing Apartheid from South Africa. However, we are not these men. Mos tof us are not leaders of movements, but we are each important and influential. We as individuals can be immensely powerful if we choose to be. We can choose to apply the examples and advice from enlightened minds like Hughes, King, Gandhi, and Mandela. When we see on Facebook or in the news on in-person people targeting or excluding others, or inciting violence againist a person or group based on race, or sexual orientation, or religion, or any other arbitrary difference selected to divide and pit us against one another, we can choose instead to respond with kindness, with humor, with positivity, and with empathy because this leads to the only kind of change that matters.

Works Cited

Hughes, Langston. "I, Too." African-American Poetry: An Anthology 1773-1927 , edited by Joan R.

Sherman, Dover Publications, Inc. Mineola, New York. 1997, p. 74.

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How to Write a Poetry Analysis

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A poetry analysis is a literary essay that focuses on the reader's understanding of a poem. Elements of poetry, including theme, structure and writing style, should be included in the discussion. A poetry analysis is organized as any literary essay to include an introduction with thesis, body paragraphs with evidence and a conclusion. To develop a thesis and find evidence, read the poem multiple times, determine its subject, examine the writer's style and identify its structure.

Reading the Poem

Multiple readings of a poem may be necessary to fully understand its meaning and develop a reaction to the writing. Actively reading the poem includes taking notes while reading. The writing center at the University of Texas at Austin suggests noting observations, questions and feelings as the poem is read. Other strategies during the reading of the poem are to paraphrase each line and clarify any confusing words or phrases. Using a dictionary at this stage of developing the analysis helps to develop a broad understanding of the poem.

Determining the Subject of the Poem

Once the meaning of the words and phrases in the poem have been determined, develop an idea about the subject of the poem as a first step in creating an analysis of the overall theme. Asking the questions "who," "what," "where," "when" and "why" can help to focus understanding of the poem. Determining the "what" creates focus on the general topic or subject of the poem and can also be used to describe the plot of the poem. Answering the "who" question is identifying the speaker of the poem. "When" may refer to the time of day or the time in history the poem occurs. "Where" refers to the physical location of the action in the poem, and "why" answers the question of the author's purpose in writing the poem. The topic of the poem is used to develop the theme -- the overall message of the poem.

The Writer's Style

Once the theme or overall idea of the poem has been determined, finding ways to support an argument about the theme will include elements of the writer's style. Tone and the mood evoked from the tone may be used as evidence in supporting the theme. Figurative language, including metaphors, similes, personification, hyperbole and symbolism, may add to the discussion of the theme of a poem. Additionally, word choice and the use of abstract or concrete details play a role in theme of a poem.

Structure of the Poem

The structure of a poem can be used as an argument to support the overall message of the poem. Discussion of structure is included in a poetry analysis as evidence of the purpose of the poem. Formal poetic structures include sonnets, haikus and odes, which may be discussed in the analysis of a poem. Additionally, the number of stanzas and lines in the poem may contribute to its rhythm and overall tone and theme. Discussion of structure also includes sentence structure and punctuation use.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: The Writing Center: Poetry Explications
The Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin: How to Read a Phone
Hamilton College: Writing Center: Writing About Poetry

Based in Los Angeles, Jana Sosnowski holds Master of Science in educational psychology and instructional technology, She has spent the past 11 years in education, primarily in the secondary classroom teaching English and journalism. Sosnowski has also worked as a curriculum writer for a math remediation program. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in print journalism from the University of Southern California.

How to Start an Introduction When Writing an Essay About Poetry

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Poem Analysis Essay Guide: Outline, Template, Structure

how to write a critical analysis essay on a poem

Poetry analysis, which is similar to poetry review, involves analyzing the language and figures of speech used by a poet. It also entails sharing personal views regarding the poem and breaking down the poetic instruments utilized by the said poet. However, it’s not just about the words used (Headrick, 2014). It entails reading between the lines and understanding what made the poet come up with a particular poem. So it may require some background research on the author and history behind the creation of the poem.

Do not worry; we can take care of your academic needs! If you do not have enough time to complete the assignment, get help from EssayService. Our " pay for essay " service has vast experience with this type of work. We have a wide range of free guides and blogs to help you so that you will have more time for the important things.

What Is A Poetry Analysis?

Poetry analysis may define as a critical review given on a poem, a reflection on the depth and gravity of a poem. It revolves around multiple aspects of a poem starting from the subject of a poem, its theme (meaning), tone, literary devices or speech figures, form to the feeling of the poet to how a reader feels about the poem. It is not only the analysis of techniques used in a poem, but poetry analysis provides a broader and wider picture of the poem, its reality, its hidden meanings between the lines, a study of poet’s mind, feeling and intention behind a poem. Different techniques used in poetry analysis are helpful tools in investigating and reviewing the poem. Behind every review or analysis vital research on poet (author), era (time frame), possible reasons, the background behind the conceptualization poem is vital.

If you have been asked to write a poem analysis essay, then it means to examine the piece and further dissect it into key elements including its form, techniques used and historical value. Then further appreciating the poem and highlighting to others these points, and gaining a better understanding.

It is also important to show as many ideas as possible that relate to the poem and then create conclusions on this.

To start writing a poetry analysis essay let's look at the prewriting stage.

How to Choose a Topic for a Poetry Analysis Essay?

In the subject of the poem we mainly focus on the reasons such as why is the poem written or what is it all about?
What is the context, the central content of the poem?
Who wrote the poem and why?
When and where the poet did write the poem, what or who has influenced the poet and what are the key features of the poem?

A topic should be chosen based on the theme you want to write. The theme is the message that the poem is trying to convey. You need to look therefore for concepts and notions that pop up in the poem and come up with an appropriate theme based on those perceptions or "feelings". If you can’t still figure out what topic you should choose for your analysis, it is recommended that you go through other poems similar poems and get a suitable topic for your analysis. Don’t also forget to cite your poem well. And also use in-text citations while quoting from the poem.

Poem Analysis Essay Outline

To create a good essay, it is needed to plan out the structure of a poem analysis essay so the writing stage will be easier and faster.

Here is an outline of a poem analysis essay to use:

Opening paragraph - Introduce the Poem, title, author and background.

Body of text - Make most of the analysis, linking ideas and referencing to the poem.

Conclusion - State one main idea, feelings and meanings.

Poem Analysis Essay Introduction

To start an introduction to a poem analysis essay, include the name of the poem and the author . Other details like the date of when it was published can also be stated. Then some background information and interesting facts or trivia regarding the poem or author can also be included here.

Poem Analysis Essay Body

When writing the main body of text keep in mind you have to reference all ideas to the poem so include a quotation to back up the sentence, otherwise, it will be a wasted comparison and not count. Be clear with your statements.

Poem Analysis Essay Conclusion

Now, this is where you should take a step back from analyzing the individual elements of the poem and work out its meaning as a whole. Combine the different elements of the analysis and put forward one main idea.

What is the poet trying to say, and how is it enforced and with what feeling? Then look at the meaning and what timeframe does this evolve over?

For example, is it obvious from the start, or does it gradually change towards the end? The last few lines can be very significant within a poem and so should be included in the poem analysis essay conclusion and commented on the impact on the piece.

Remember that you can always send us a " write an essay for me " text and have your assignment done for you.

How to Analyze a Poem?

Before even thinking about your first draft, read the poem as much as possible. If it's possible, listen to it in the original form. This depends on many factors which include if the poet is still alive?

Also reading aloud can help identify other characteristics that could be missed and even to a friend or colleague will give a chance to more insight. It is important to remember that poetry is a form of art painted with only words, this said it could take time to fully appreciate the piece. So take note of any first thoughts you have about the poem, even if they are negative.

Your opinions can change over time but still mark these first thoughts down.

So that to analyze a poem properly, you have to pay attention to the following aspects:

Title of the Poem

So let's go deeper into the poem analysis essay and look at the title. The poet may have spent a lot of time thinking about naming the piece so what can be observed from this and what further questions can be asked?

What are your expectations? For example, the poem could be titled “Alone” written by Edgar Allan Poe and from this it is natural to assume it will be sad. After reading further does the reality turn out to be different?
What is the literature style used? So for example, the work could be called “His last sonnet” by John Keats. From appearance, it is possible to deduce that it could be in sonnet form and if not why did the poet choose to mislead the audience?
What is the poem about? In the poem, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways” by Elizabeth Barrett, it already states what could be included and what to expect but if it differs from the title what would this suggest?

Literal Meaning of the Poetry

According to our to fully appreciate a piece, it is needed to understand all the words used. So, for example, get a good dictionary and look up all the unknown words. Then go through partly known words and phrases and check these too. Also, maybe check the meaning of words that are used a lot, but remember some text may have had a different meaning a century ago, so use the internet to look up anything that is not clear. Furthermore, people and places and any cultural relevance of the time should be researched too to get a deeper look at the poet's attitude towards the piece. Patterns might become visible at this point and maybe the theme of the poem.

Structure of the Poem

When looking at the structure of the piece this will reveal more information so pay close attention to this. Look at the organization and sections, this will unlock more questions:

What does each part discuss?
How do the parts relate to each other?
Can you see formal separations?
What logical sense does it have?
Is there emotional sense that can be evaluated?
Does having a strict format say anything about the poet?
Also failing to have a strict structure does this reveal something?

Once you have observed the structure, it is possible to go deeper into the poem analysis essay and investigate how the speaker communicates the poem to the reader.

Tone and Intonation of the Poetry

So now it is possible to look at the poet and see what details can be obtained from them. Is it possible to see the gender or age of the speaker? Is there some race or religious references to pick up on? Then can we see if the speaker is directly communicating their thoughts and ideas to the reader? If not, what is the character the poet has created to convey the ideas or messages? Does the poet's persona differ to the character created and what can be analyzed from this? Also the mood of the speaker could be available now, are they happy or sad, and how can you find out this from the poem?

Once the poet is understood it is possible to move onto who or what the poem is designed for. Then you can see the purpose of the poetry, what does the poet want from the reader? It is also possible that the poet does not desire a response from the audience and is simply making a statement or expressing themselves.

For example, a poem about spring could just be a happy statement that winter has ended. Looking from the other side, this could be an attempt to attract someone's attention or maybe just an instruction to plow the field.

Purpose of the Poem

The subject of the poem can help identify the purpose, as this usually will be what the poet is describing. Then the theme can be identified also, and what does it say about the work? Are there any links between the theme and the subject and what can analyzed from that? The timeframe is also an important factor to consider, for example, the poet's goal back when it was written, may have changed and why? Furthermore, has the original purpose survived the test of time and can it be said to be the best indicator of success?

Language and Imagery of the Poetry

Until this point it was only possible to analyze the literal information available which is the denotative meaning.’ Now let's look at the imagery, symbolism and figures of speech, this is the connotative meaning.

This is where you should look for pictures described within the text and analyze why they have been depicted? So for example, if the poet thas decided to describe the moon this could set the time in the work or maybe the mood of the poem. Also look for groups of images described and patterns within this, what can be deducted from that?

So when looking for symbolism within the text this could be an event or physical object, including people and places that represent non-physical entities like an emotion or concept. For example, a bird flying through the air can be seen as freedom and escaping usual conforms.

Poetic devices

In your analysis you will look at techniques like metaphors, similes, personification and alliteration to include just a few. It's important to identify the actual device used and why it was chosen. For example, when comparing something within the text using a metaphor then look at how they are connected and in what way they are expressed? Try to use all available clues to gain better insight into the mind of the poet.

Music of the Poem

Poetry and music have deep connections and can be compared together due to the history and uses throughout the ages.

Here are some things to look out for to help with those comparisons:

Meter - This can be available to investigate in different ways, for example, iambic pentameter has a strict five beats per line just like a musical score if used what does it say?
Rhythm - Just like with music, poem can have a rhythm but if there is no given meter, it is needed to look closer and observe what this does to the work. For example, a particular beat that is fast could make the poem happy.
Special effects - Looking for not so obvious signs where the poet has written in a way so you take longer to pronounce words. Also it is possible to grab your attention in other ways, for what reason has the writer done that?
Rhyme - There are many different types of rhyming techniques used within poetry, once identified look at how it impacts on the work like make it humorous for example? Be careful to look for unusual patterns for example rhymes within the lines and not just at the end of the sentences, even reading out aloud might help find these and then what does it this say about the poem?
Sound effects - The depiction of different sounds can be powerful and also using different voices, look at what impact this has on the piece and why?
Breaking Rules - Rhyme and meter for example can have very specific rules but what if the poet decided to break these conventional techniques and make something new, what does this add to the work and why

How to Write a Poem Analysis Essay?

Below you will find a compelling guide on how to analyze poetry with handy writing tips:

Choose a suitable poem - If possible, before you start, pick the main subject of your essay, a poem that you would like to analyze. The more you find it interesting, the easier it will be to handle the task.
Read it fully - If you are wondering how to analyse poetry, the first step you can’t go without is carefully reading the chosen poem multiple times and, preferably, out loud.
Always double-check the meanings - When reading a poem, don’t forget to check for the meanings of unknown (and known as well) words and phrases.
Collect all the details you need - To write a compelling essay, you need to study the poem’s structure, contents, main ideas, as well as other background details.
Explore hidden meanings - When analyzing poem, be sure to look beyond the words. Instead, focus on finding broader, hidden ideas that the author wanted to share through his piece.
Make an outline - Once you have analyzed poem, outline your essay and write it following the plan.
Proofread and edit - Finally, once your essay is ready, take your time to revise and polish it carefully.

Poetry Analysis Template

To write a winning poem analysis essay, use the template below or order an essay from our professionals.

Introduction

Name of Poem
Name of Poet
Date of Publication
Background or any relevant information

Form of poem

Structure of poem
Rhyme of poem

Meaning of poem

Overall meaning
How can we relate the poem to our life

Poetic Techniques

Literary devices

Form of the Poem

Poems are written in some ways, here one need to identify which structure the poet has used for the poem. The forms of poems broadly are stanzas, rhythm, punctuation and rhymes. Carefully analyze the length and number of stanzas , does the rhythm impacts the meaning of the poem, is there many punctuations or little, either the rhyme is consistent, or it’s breaking and what is the rhyme contributing to the meaning of the poem or is it random.

Theme, Meaning or Message of the Poem

In this part, we focus on the topic, main issue or idea of the poem. There are layers of meaning hidden in a poem.

Meaning: surface meaning that what is actually or physically happening in the poem which a reader can sense.
Deeper Meaning: the central idea of the poem or what is it actually about.
Theme: in poetry, there is always a hidden meaning in every line, which depicts the message about life.

Numerous topics can be covered in poems such as love, life, death, birth, nature, memory, war, age, sexuality, experience, religion, race, faith, creator and many others.

Tone of the Poem

The tone of the poem shows attitude or mood of the language used by the poet. Analyze the different shades of the language used in the poem for example; is it formal, judgmental, informal, critical, positive, bitter, reflective, solemn, frustrated, optimistic, ironic, scornful, regretful or morbid.

Literary Device used in the Poem

Find out what the different literary devices are or what sort of figures of speech is used by the poet . Analyze these techniques and suggest their use in the poem by the poet. The poem can contain a symbol, similes, metaphor, alliteration, allegories, oxymoron, assonances, dissonances, repetition, hyperbole, irony.

Conclusion or Feel of the Poem

Lastly, analyze the emotions and feelings linked with the poem; of the poet and what do you feel when you read the poem. This is the very critical part of reviewing a poem because we analyze the inner depth of the poem, the intention & feelings of the poet, the targeted audience, does the poem reflect the poet’s persona, perspective or it does not match with the poet.

Poetry Analysis Essay Example

Analysis of Edgar Allan Poe’s Poem “Annabel Lee”

Written in 1849 and first published after the author’s death, Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe is a beautiful story of true love that goes beyond life. In the poem, the author is commemorating the girl named Annabel Lee, whom he knew since childhood. Despite the young age, the love between the narrator and Annabel was so deep and true that even angels were jealous, and, according to Edgar Allan Poe, their jealousy was so severe that they killed the love of his life. The poem ends with young Annabel Lee being buried in a tomb, leaving the readers with a feeling that the author kept holding on to his love for her for many years after her death.

The two evident topics in the poem are love and loss. The entire narration revolves around the author’s agonizing memory, at the same time demonstrating to the readers the purity and power of true love that makes him cherish the memory of his beloved one even after she is gone. Apart from that, Edgar Allan Poe also discusses such issues of love as jealousy and envy. The author states that the love of the two teens was so strong that even angels in heaven were not half as happy as Annabel and Edgar, which caused them to invade the teens’ romantic “kingdom by the sea” and kill the girl.

The topics discussed in the poem, as well as the style of narration itself, give the poem a very romantic atmosphere. It follows the main principles of the romantic era in poetry in the 18th and 19th centuries, which Edgar Allan Poe was representing. At the same time, the author also gives his poem a sense of musicality and rhythm. The poem’s rhyme scheme puts emphasis on the words “Lee”, “me”, and “sea”. The repetition of these words gives the poem a song-like sound.

A significant role in Edgar Allan Poe’s poem is played by imagery, which emphasizes the author’s unique style. The main imagery used by Allan Poe in Annabel Lee is the Kingdom. The author uses this imagery to set the right tone for his poem and give it a sort of a fairytale feel. At the same time, this imagery is used to take the reader to a different place, though not specifying what exactly this place is. To confirm this - the author uses the phrase “the kingdom by the sea” multiple times in his piece, never specifying its meaning. This trick enables the readers to leave this to their own imagination.

Apart from the Kingdom, the author also operates with the imagery of angels and demons. The narrator blames them for their envy for their deep love, which resulted in the death of Annable Lee. Thus, the author gives a negative attitude towards this imagery. This brings us to another big topic of good and evil discussed in the poem.

Nevertheless, even though the angels’ intervention seems to be clear to the reader from what the author says, Poe’s choice of words doesn’t directly implicate their responsibility for the girl’s death. The narrator blames everybody for his loss. However, he does this in a very tactical and covert way.

In conclusion, it becomes clear that the narrator in Annabel Lee did not only pursue a goal to share his pain and loss. He also emphasizes that true love is everlasting by stating that his love for the gone girl lives with him after all these years. With all its deep topics, imagery, and musicality, Annabel Lee is now considered one of the best works by Edgar Allan Poe.

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How to Write a Poem Analysis

How to Write a Good Poem Analysis

When you study language and literature, you will have to write a poem analysis frequently. Teachers believe that students will train their memory, critical thinking skills and creativity when they read and analyze poems at least once a week. Doubtless, poetry is the best way to write about complex issues in the most concise way. Every poem has a lot of hidden ideas and symbols, which require professional and scrupulous analysis. Obviously, students have problems with this assignment, because it requires the original approach. You can improve your knowledge about poem analysis writing if you look through these simple guidelines.

Step One: Write about Context of the Poem

When you need to prepare a poem analysis, you should start with the presentation of the general information about it. It is important to learn about the background information of your poem if you want to understand its meaning and hidden ideas. To begin with, pay attention to the author. Think whether he had any specific political, religious or social position and point of view. Could he introduce his own problems in his poem? Was he fond of travelling? Did he participate in military conflicts? Was he rich or poor? Secondly, pay attention to the time and place of publication. Think about the historical events, which occurred at that time. Then, write whether the poem belongs to any literary movement. Mention that the poem is the part of the definite series of works of this author. Define the general tone and theme of this collection of poems.

Step Two: Define Style of the Poem and Analyze Its Title

When you read the poem for the first time, you can define its style easily. It can be an epic, a lyric, a confessional poem, etc. Then, pay attention to its title. Say whether it has deep meaning or antithesis or whether there are many options of its explanation.

Step Three: Pay Attention to Repetitions and Opening and Closing Lines

When you read the poem and see that some words and phrases repeat several times, you should think about the reason of this decision. It is possible to say that these repetitions are the most informative and important parts of the entire poem. You ought to analyze them attentively. Opening and closing lines are important, because they play the role of an introduction and conclusion.

Step Four: Analyze Speaker of the Poem

It is important to learn about the speaker of the poem. He can narrate in the first person or sound like a universal voice. Try to guess whether the speaker is male or female and whether it is possible to identify him with the author of the poem. On the other hand, you ought to be careful and avoid this identification, because the speaker is not the same as the author.

Step Five: Define Mood, Rhythm and Tone of the Poem

Write whether the mood of the poem is jolly, mysterious, gloomy, depressive, etc. The mood is closely connected with the main theme. If the author writes about tragic and fearful events, he will hardly choose cheerful mood. It is quite difficult to identify the tone of writing. One can easily recognize irony and satire but he will have problems with the differentiation of somber and serious tones. Finally, you should pay attention to the rhythm of the poem. Some poems can possess long lines and you will not read them rhythmically. Other poems sound like a marsh. Moreover, every poem has its own speed. In some places, you can read faster, while in other places the speed of reading decreases.

Step Six: Analyze Language of the Poem and Its Symbols

You ought to analyze the language of your poem in order to find the hidden symbols and context there. Pay attention to the peculiar sounds, onomatopoeia, alliteration, euphony, cacophony, etc., which improve the quality of the poem. Finally, you ought to find any symbols, which can help you understand the content better. Most often, you should possess background knowledge about the definite culture if you want to decipher the symbols presented in the text. When you analyze the entire poem, paraphrase it into the simplest words in order to demonstrate that you have understood its idea and composition.

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Critical Analysis of Poetry by Sylvia Plath - Lady Lazarus

1. introduction to sylvia plath and lady lazarus.

Any analysis of how language represents the human must necessarily come to terms with the linguistic exploration undertaken by Sylvia Plath. Herewith we confine our critical study to the poem Lady Lazarus for the forthcoming reasons: Lady Lazarus belongs to her final volume, Ariel, which is also the high point of her poetic creativity. In this poem, Plath reflects representatively on her artistic commitment. Also broadly outlined is her post-war view of the social and moral role of poets. The poem is highly intertextual; it is not only a response to historical facts but also to biographical facts known to us, hence doubtless coloring Plath's message. Vice versa, it admits the most varied readings and critical options because of the structural incongruities we would briefly like to dwell on. It offers the stimulating reading of an artist's liminal experience, offering the opportunity of an intertextual exploration of the mythological and religious patterns evoked. It reflects Plath's multicultural education, finally allowing us to emerge on a post-word thematic level, where it places to recount her intimate manuscript genesis and crucial revision stages. The work proposes to analyze the strategies Plath as a poet and intellectual chooses to use in her biographical writing as a woman, professional writer, and hotly controversial mother. It claims further that there still exists today in poetic writing a sort of ethically discriminating pleasure, rather like the ancient concept of literary pleasure, limiting the currents of cultural communication. We shall also consider some critical examples of the sexualization of the language of various artistic expressions, especially for chamber music, a field with which my research interests me particularly, calling our attention to the more or less explicit formulations of this renewed male perception of a female poet's artistic project. The positive fantasy ascribed to the Nietzschean superman is at the same time a luxury and a mental power for a poet in forging a private Reich out of the world around her and the poet-symbol within, who has the power to make the world her subject raise her to a more impassioned level... or debasement.

1.1. Biographical Background of Sylvia Plath

Critical Analysis of Poetry by Sylvia Plath - Lady Lazarus Biographical Background of Sylvia Plath Sylvia Plath was born in Boston in 1932. Her father was a teacher and biologist at Boston University. Her father's death was a disaster for her, and this is quite prominently noticeable in her poems. In 1950, she went to Newnham College in Cambridge, England on a Fulbright scholarship. In 1952, she met Ted Hughes. In 1956, they got married, and throughout their marriage, they both largely influenced each other's writing. Sylvia Plath was the author of the poems known as "Colossus" (written in 1960 but published in 1962), "Ariel" (published in 1965), "Three Women" (published in 1968), "Crossing the Water" (published in 1971), "Lady Lazarus" (published in 1971), and "Winter Trees" (published in 1971). She is also the author of the novel "The Bell Jar" (published in 1963). Plath revolts against the representation of women as objects to be viewed. She revolts against the female representations as referents, not as representatives. The breakdown of images is, as stated above, a breakdown of the ideal and magical code. But it is not prefabricated, but made by herself to defy and go beyond the images imposed on her by others' inscriptions. A substitute woman subject inscribes herself in there, within those valuations, and in the eyes of the male observer enrolls in "the program of destruction caused by his presence." In the light estranging her, so rather than vice versa. Plath's poetry is a revolt against images and the poetics of existence that silently imposes the world of the female body. Plath becomes her own muse, taking away from herself and demanding in a confusing voice to allow herself to associate with the pain in universal suffering.

1.2. Overview of Lady Lazarus Poem

The title lady, used by the poet, explicitly suggests that the speaker is a female. The word Lazarus has a biblical reference, as there exists a story about a man named Lazarus, who after being in the tomb for a period of more than three days, was resurrected from the dead by Jesus Christ. The poem, in a way, is related to this story, but there is a clear deviation as the person in this poem has been sixty years dead, but still comes back to life. The announcement of resurrection from the grave will be a welcome sight for anyone. But, the poem portrays the speaker in a very different manner. She uses morbid imagery to describe her body, to convey that she is not alive, but is in a living death. The vivid portrayal of her body suggests that there is no mystery in her, since the historical records may be used to write a detailed obituary about her, there being no secrets to her inner self.

2. Themes in Lady Lazarus

Sylvia Plath is considered to be both the poet and the speaker of Lady Lazarus. She uses stratagem to condemn aspects of life through Holocaust allusions and to explore rebirth through the character of Lady Lazarus. Additional address is accomplished through the imagery, also. This ulterior more confidential address could reach the reader through confessional mode, which the speaker or poet assumes. By contrast, some interpretations reveal Lady Lazarus as an attack on poetry. That presence of death, alongside a respect for it, can bring poetry to life. If so, poetry and art bear some importance in the now, as do the politics accompanying a concern for poetry. Plath concerns her poetry in Lady Lazarus with the repeating malevolent misuse of death as influence and course of action. The resulting lack of control and depletion of strength characterizes the problem with life. However, in her address she seems to remain concerned with the continual attraction in the potential chance of rebirth and revitalization. The title of the Ariel poem "Lady Lazarus" sets the reader up for a modernized revision of the biblical story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. "Lady Lazarus" was written by Sylvia Plath in Nazi Germany while she lived abroad. This poem is called a sestina which is free verse and "rich in complex imagery". The sestina is "a complicated form in which six words of the first stanza are repeated as the sixth word in the next 5 stanzas; a seventh stanza, of three lines, has three of these repeated words". The poem speaks of an oversensitive observance of the dead in which people watch corpses to be "resurrected" in an almost sadistic manner.

2.1. Death and Rebirth

Plath was fascinated by the theme of death all her life. In most of her poems, death is a subject or an undertone, as in "Daddy" and in "Lady Lazarus", where the title figure introduces herself by asking, in effect, "Do you think death is glamorous?" Pain and the possibility of redemption or fresh growth are constants in Plath's work. Specifically, Christian ideas are cited and dismissed angrily at times, and life is often symbolized as a black sludge or something harrowed and barren. "Lady Lazarus" is one of Plath's most basically biographical poems. She wrote it in response to a popular news story about a young girl who had tried to commit suicide in order to attract the attention of her father. There are certainly levels to its meaning beyond the autobiographical. However, it must be accepted that this is a poem for which there are numerous biographical points of linkage and which does not gain in depth by denying them, or indeed by denying the commonality of human suffering by saying, "Well, of course, everybody has a right to feel the pain of these events." What would we mean by "feeling the pain" if everyone's suffering were an equally acceptable means of expressing ourselves? The vocabulary and images in "Lady Lazarus" are among the most disturbing of any of Plath's confessional pieces. She is identifying in the most Gothic manner with a series of the maggot-eaten dead, "a mousy blade" faced with offal or animal sludge. She has correspondingly the multiple facets of a stool, and it is part of her story that people will address her on all these personal levels. Her fate is manifest: she has been "dying" daily for years, but she is invariably resuscitated. She is beginning to settle into the role of a Christ-figure. Plath obliges the reader to see her as all these figures which exemplify her role and state of understanding. She is the pilgrim who has been erased; she is the phoenix; she is the interposed pattern controlling the reprehensible and offensive narrative of Yezierska's professional Jew. Plath reconciles the darkness and inertia which being Lady Lazarus involves by claiming identity with a patriotic witch-figure. The witch belongs to a blue period of mid-career induction imagery; she is claimed by her persecutors and ideally has spiritual authority over them. Plath further confuses the reader by stating that so-called evil articulations such as the Nazi propaganda of "An engine, an engine..." operate with comparable force to harmful heresy in, for example, the contentment of Christmas hymns such as "O Come All Ye Faithful".

2.2. Feminism and Gender Roles

As per Sandra Gilbert and Susan Sutton in their introduction to the book 'Feminine and Feminist,' the purpose of feminism is to unsettle the present power structure and to extend the denial of authority to women as well. By doing so, it is seeking to create an alternative power structure, one that recognizes differences in people rather than one based on their gender alone. Feminist poetry often studies similar themes to Plath’s own preoccupations: isolation, madness, personal transformation and salvation. "German and Jew" is reminiscent of Plath’s poem about her father. It is like "Daddy" in its view of the father as an oppressor. However, the organization of "Part of the Draft" is more random and the poem a little more visual than "Daddy." Each eleven lines describe one thing about the father or the speaker's relationship with him. It starts with a description of her father's hands and then moves on to describe other things that made up her father's life. Her father had to retrace his steps because duty drove him back for a time. Then the poem describes Sylvia's relation to his ghost, recalling him walking against God's pimp as his daughter, who has only identified herself as dead. Sylvia Plath identified herself as a Jew. Plath's identity with the Jews was very deep. The speaker acknowledges what her father has done before he fell into his just desert by echoing the plight of the Jews in the Holocaust.

2.3. Mental Health and Depression

An analysis of "Lady Lazarus" by Sylvia Plath should take into account, as well as all Sylvia Plath's poems, the frequent themes that have been recurrent in her poetry: those of mental health and depression. She was always very aware of her own internal experiences. The whole series of popular songs about suicide by other authors, such as "Strange Fruit" by Billie Holiday or "Strange Fruit" by Leneberry, can also help to see these issues, showing that the solution is not a consul of the moon. But we also have to face the fact that here, there are no limits where we maybe can't write. There are a few articles on literature and authors over suicide that explain in detail the problems authors face when trying to describe something they have never experienced and the highly researched obligation of suicide as an alternative final. They never get to the agony of not being able to write of what takes them away certainly, but at some point, the personal solution makes them unwilling to carry on when the interest in life is no longer present either. She writes about numerous suicide attempts, even in electromagnetized oxygen rooms; however, in "Lady Lazarus," we have the notion of still being alive that brings her poem glory and invincibility.

3. Symbolism and Imagery in Lady Lazarus

The title of the poem is an allusion to the biblical character Lazarus, who was raised from the dead by Jesus Christ. A first-person speaker talks about being brought back to life on a regular basis. According to Sylvia Plath herself, the speaker alludes to herself in the poem. The poem begins by mentioning her rise from being dead, every 10 years or so. Whenever she was close to suicide, she manages to get back to life somehow. With reference to Jewish mythology, she regards herself as Lady Lazarus instead of being resurrected as the 'queen-like' figure Mary. She feels powerful to control her life and come back to life when she wants. As in the poem 'Daddy', she vilifies her husband and her father throughout the poem. In Plath's poetry, the process of writing is an elaborately complex one involving a series of symbols. "Writing is a ghastly business," Plath confesses in the 'Introduction to Journals', "The message in the bottle, the billet-doux, the circus note, the blood splotch, the Election Day confetti, the drink-ringed scratch paper are all alibis more or less satisfactory." In a letter to her mother, she defined writing as "A form of getting out of the body, like a transfusion. She wrote one-third of her poems in 1962 and 1963 and was successful in writing sixty for 1962 alone. Each poem, wrote 41 drafts. Her poem "Lady Lazarus" was composed at top speed. She published her Ariel poems without correcting the proofs and paid little attention to words. Describing the physical act of writing, Plath used such words as "sludge, made, sweat, lowing, bloating, whale-like, tray-fish, buds to be goose-pimpled, crouching, hissing, shedding, yawning, mud-efficient". She also described the imprint of the self in terms of the written word: "The reason is that these execrable, bone-wearying times are rich in understanding, that such dialectical developments as have contributed to the formation of some feeling or opinion can be represented accurately and acidly by particular words in three and four-dimensional actions".

3.1. Holocaust Imagery

If the color of these cakes is the "dying" Plath writes of in letters and journals, her Lady Lazarus is also "a drama of death, death of female in its prime," as Sylvia Plath writes in her journal. The repeated dying and burial of Lady Lazarus, "Swastika," and Cut reminds us of the Holocaust imagery that is contained in all of Plath's poetry. And although the Holocaust imagery in the Nazi concentration camps or in racist riots in the United States is not the exact situation of the dismembered female, the images convey the hostile and mocking sociopolitical pressures against individual life as well as the dominance of male aesthetics. They highlight the lack of freedom that women face as being caused by sexual politics and the male gaze. The "big feet" of Lady Lazarus bring to mind the dictatorship of the male spectator, and the self-creation and plural self-advocacy affect Orwellian language in Plath's poetry. In the "big strip tease," that women show themselves to society and to living, they also devalue themselves. They clean a superficial façade and create the "perfect" female mask comprised of hair, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, waist, thighs, hips, breasts, and sexual attraction. In order to become attractive to men, women remove any threatening, disagreeing, independent, or overly euphoric color from their already delicate bodies and shallows themselves into "papier-mache lasruses meting in". The man-made warning is the created god dictating this thin, beauty and youth, along with the promise of an everlasting life in the community never quite "arrived enamel" where being young implies being male. Women are women and men's culture devours women's bodies and denies female death, ultimately leaving women without a physical, emotional, or mental voice. Women create narcissistic images that are consistent with the "must be dead" ideal. "'Do I terrify?'-"Plath writes in her reconstructions of the female self apparent in the attempts to repersonal society, re-emotion themselves and reflect a visual damage that would confirm the ruins of their inherited masks and "Do I terrify the market?'"

3.2. The Phoenix Motif

The makers of the Oxford Dictionary recognize two distinct qualities in their definition of the Phoenix. The full form of the bird, they say, was "a unique bird that lived for 500 years and then burnt itself to death, rising renewed from its ashes." The modern definition of the bird is "a person or thing of unsurpassed excellence or beauty." Sylvia Plath chose her third persona to act as hostess and entertainer during her third coming out, for under the name of Lady Lazarus, she offers herself as a grotesque piece of vaudeville to an eager audience, promising to assuage their disgust with her act of redemption. Like the mythological Phoenix, Plath also reduces a number of basic themes in "Lady Lazarus." The original Phoenix began as an ordinary bird that died in order to be resurrected. It did not kill itself as Lady Lazarus does but rather died a natural death in order to be reborn in its own ashes. The Phoenix in the poem is not the traditional creature. Phoenixes prompt themes of the nature of death, the cycle of birth and rebirth, and the eventual renewal of life. The following paragraph would have to be a study in overstatement and hypochondriac as well as a digression into irrelevant biographical data, if it were not Plath's own favorite theme, that of her renowned struggle for survival. Her daughter, she claims, was the personal reason which led her away from what could only be termed her "death-defying" stunts. There is a recurring fear of "Nothing." Plath really does seem to be fascinated by the concept. Nothing has been called her favorite quotation. It is by a friend and contemporary, a poet of impressive stature, one who has no answer to Plath's wanting to know "what a Badger Balm (not P.B. McGoohan) has against Not-Nothing." Nothing is a "relatively big concept." Plath plays a frightening game with the notion, calling herself Lady Lazarus, a figure of some mythical quality. For a woman who sought release or escape from her threatened sense of genius by embarking on a different plane of existence, her preoccupation with nothing is rather moving. In "Lady Lazarus," the forces of death, time, and decay have been conquered by a brand of necromancy. The poem acts as a personal mantra, an incantation by which life is affirmed in the face of such a threat. The sufferer indicates a self-acknowledged victory over death. It did seem as if death was the "final agony" but in the end life was really worth a comeback. The adversity provided the word, explicit in this context, about the true nature of life: that it is to be venerated, that it is a thing of absolute beauty. The poem was grimly titled "Lady Lazarus," but Plath chose the theme of the god of Death to promote the philosophy nearest and dearest to her heart. Such a theme seems almost too green for the "harvest moon," too unnatural. This poem occupies a unique category. It has been termed cathartic under the general categories of rants. Plath saw "Lady Lazarus" as "a current rage, song, and scream against death." The Phoenix Motif is different in that it equates to life. Although Sylvia Plath employed the Phoenix not in the literal sense but in a metaphorical sense, the motifs she used were flexible. Its true nature, the thing of beauty and creature of genius was desperate to come out, too can be revealed through its use by Sylvia Plath.

4. Literary Devices in Lady Lazarus

The title alludes to a known Bible story, Lazarus, who was resurrected by Jesus in the fourth gospel. The title is striking and arresting at the very beginning. But not only does it set the scene, its structure strikes a chord with the nature of time and the timelessness of Lady Lazarus. The title makes it evident that the poem is about a powerful resurrection. Not only this, the title offers the reader a clue for interpreting the poem. Like Lazarus, the poet also emerged after a long period of gloom in her life (assumed), abetted by her own suicidal attempts. The hyperbolic identification of the poet with the Bible character is the literal fulfillment of the title. We see not the poet, but the personified version of the three-day lady. Finally, we also recall that Lady Lazarus was physically raised from the dead, but his resurrection, underlines, is squalid and unacceptable because of the post-resurrection stink. The poetess has utilized many figures of speech which have made the poetry evergreen. Some of them are as follows: Simile: "A sort of walking miracle, my skin." Literal Metaphor: The poetess uses entirely material and physical content, such as skin, teeth, and bone, to express the rebirth that she has experienced after a near-death experience on the outer fringe of her husband. She has unnaturally revived like an uncorked thin-a peacock- to resume the life that she put at risk. Personification: "A sort of walking miracle, my skin" - a special art to ascribe human attributes and emotions to non-human objects. Anaphora: "Do I terrify?" The first time it happens in a question, and in the next go, they answer in the negative. It affords them a digging effect, which, however, wears out its impact with repetition. Enjambment: "Peel off the napkin," etc. - The poem translates the text of a self-introductory letter. Plath has to describe in sheaf-condensation passion for ends vexes and boast the many-effaceable experience of maternal vanity in the following spellbinding lines. It leads into a strophe rich in letters (these ink, knuckles, etc.); their rich frequent appearance this recruitment of but different terms communicates spontaneous natural charm. Their brick-babbling trait simplicity contributes to impart the personality of a very decent, subtle, and modern Marquise. The expressions prove as sparkling and precious stones do, some being shine to invest the whole figure of the enigma. The parenthesis-gums round our dry bones- insist on the fact of physical decay for the sake of those who wish to bring Lazarus back to life.

4.1. Allusion

As with the Bible, the reader is strongly recommended to follow through the allusions in these sections and the poem. The poem alone runs the risk of encouraging the thoughts of suicide she had feared. The relevant passages are Revelation 1-3, 1 Corinthians 15, and 2 Samuel 1 and 18-19; they are shown in the following section. Here the most striking comment has to be reservations about the title - the feminizing of Lazarus is a falsification. Lazarus (or Eleazar) has to fit the pattern of reversal of deep-laid death, as is part of what makes the parable Tennyson refers to so patently religious. Otherwise, despite the female poet (not plural), the poem itself requires a conception along conventionally Christian lines, including the descending by stages rather than a restoration to whole life, not least in the breaking up and exposure of the soul. The explosions, outbursts, rising and falling of the voice, the crying, the exhortation and boastings, as well as threats, scorn, and totally excessive literary and religious allusiveness, all attest not to a calm, resolved acceptance of her fate, but to a fearful rejection of it, whose very violence can only come about from the prospect being palpably in sight. Note that the voice descends further; continually reliving her deaths is common in these poems, and calls for a less immutable interpretation of the resurrection than had previously been supposed.

4.2. Repetition and Rhythm

Plath uses the word "comeback" four times in this one poem. She uses the cliche "dying is an art" twice. "Eats men like air" occurs twice. "A sort of walking miracle". "Elm... elm." "The peanut-crunching crowd". These repetitions, among others, are not accidental. They help to shape the poem's attitude and meaning. Moreover, most of them appear in a repeated rhythm or the repetition of "l". Hear it. A closer metaphor might be a child's riddle; "lady" rhymes with "laddie" and "riddle" rhymes with. The play on words symbolizes an attitude in the poem that is akin to the child's riddle: who am I - but with a morbid awareness. These play with words add to the contorted, chaotic arrhythmia. The primary effect - rhythm that taps a disjointed melody. And then, beyond it all. "Wobbling" breaks the rhythm. Slithers away. But rhyme is disguised; the "we smile and nod" links "plummet" back to the earth of the peanut crowd. They do not need to know my art. "But out of the ash" and the "horror" are both linked by off-anapest rhyme in the feminine ending that pulls "horror" away from "lour". "Out of the ash". Such rhythm, and rage. Then treacherous sibilance with a fire that purrs. SLOW AND AGILE" -- placing the reader in partnership with the speaker. Unique - trembling, supplicatory.

5. Critical Reception and Interpretations of Lady Lazarus

Many critics have criticized Lady Lazarus. Ladenson sees the poem as a "flash in the Candelabra," defining a new Sylvia, "autobiographical in content but also very crafty in the manipulation of the vehicle of presentation." She disagrees with some readers' positions, citing the Given's inadequacies. Beuscher, in "Sylvia Plath: Poetry and Imposed Rage," sees Prufrock and Lady Lazarus as degrees of the same being, existing in different places of the same peninsular domain. Man and woman share a single loneliness - the Prufrock poem is set in the empty drawing rooms of sponn erty; the Lady Lazarus poem in a studio which offers an emptiness of still another color, but the emptiness is theirs, sexually confused but nevertheless distinct in identity through the shared environment. White likens Plath's early poems to "Ariel Glass," the focus of which is always her own image. She dies in "Lady Lazarus" three times, and thus is her own Christ. Pownell has said that "Her poems are indeed confessional. Each of these poems, however, in her present volume, is substantially more poetic, in the sense of being a free-standing work rather than a mere transcript of psychic chaos. Kenner, in "At a Grave in Brunswick, Maine," sees Plath's subject matter as the hazard of being a woman, something completely different from Elaine Showalter. Susan. 1 and 2," on "I Am Vertical," Mazzola sees less Plath's dependence upon sexual masochism, "fully realizing uniqueness that makes her last poems a breakthrough. She's more like John Donne... begging for punishment, it is a dislikable thing, as is her penultimate salvation in that death drive of which another, more immediate image is her colostomy stoma, 'the great, clean stillness,' 'view of my hanging it out of spoons.'" Upper Millet's comments on Madame Bovary's sexual masochism are offered in an essay to Alicia Ostriker. Anne Sexton sees Lady Lazarus as centering her being. Linda Adele Goodine, in "Anne Sexton, a Poet's Struggle with God," sees "a life centered in death is withdrawn by the sudden wholeness of life." Commonality - rejection of the soul, God's word - after work, who often symbols - not request commonality in the negative moments, Shulman sees Plath as deadly as platinum. Greenlee, in "Sylvia Plath: 'A Sort of Walking Miracle,'" comments on many aspects of Lady Lazarus' images, describing how the narrator is resurrected from a show window of suicide attempts rather than that casual mind, like the narrator of her own life. Smith dissects the Lady Lazarus images separately. Her earliest comments date from 1965 and are those of the harshest, most critical commentator. This critic doesn't care for the Lady Lazarus poem and says so a number of times. She finds the poem a "drone of self-pity." Smith likes "Eavesdropping," "Contusion," and "Ariel" best of all the Ariel poems and finds "Nick and the Candlestick," some other poems by Plath to be "spoiled by her excesses," these excesses found to be Judgement or Fine Distinctions.

5.1. Psychoanalytic Interpretations

Psychoanalytic critics focus on the unveiling of obsession, paranoia, or other types of psychological disorders in the speaker. The confusion and inability to organize thoughts give rise to what appears to be pure chaos. As a cornerstone of Freudianism, a poem by Plath is considered to be the inevitable offspring of schizophrenia. Lazarus, or Doctor of the Bible, did not yet kill him, but he is approaching his dead power – because of psycho-mythic powers exemplifying characters in the Plath poem emphasizing that the tool of repression has not many multiple characters, different antics, dominance through them, does not allow focused contact, which depraves the focus; more mysterious. Additionally, the Oedipus complex refers to a "normal" rite of passage into the world of adulthood and is a false establishment. Fixes poets in a specific age group: "Poe describes the growth of male intellectuals who assert themselves or oppose female victims of their gods. He is best equipped to face the problem of purgatory, accomplished." In "Lady Lazarus," Sylvia Plath, with its awareness of the literary convention of communication, "Lady" not only echoes male applause. I studied the fierce words rather than the actual unrest, fear, and destructive horror than "Lady." Plath creates three characters: a stubborn, labile, and uncertain voice that surrendered under the central force to stop his vulnerability. She introduces them into a clearly planned struggle to preserve life in the shadow of death. The speaker is "at work" ("I enjoy life") under the control of her constant suicidal intentions. Overposting vs. In different engravings of Kumi's predicament, mediating disputes with "sobbing" shows that more interpretations have become her bet. Plath presents the bewildered reader with these conflicting internal claims to better understand the obsession described in the poem. We can know why, because many rehabilitation processes remind her of imagery and drama; psychoanalytical methods can also help us understand.

5.2. Feminist Readings

One of the first and most important critics that interpreted Plath's work favoring a feminist perspective was, without any doubt, Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar in "The Madwoman in the Attic," and their theory: "The Anxiety of Authorship – High Romance and the Woman Writer." Other feminist theoreticians such as Adrienne Rich, Phyllis Chesler, and Kate Millet have also written about her work. Millet mentioned her as a figure of authority like Freud and so declared her guilt. It is important to remember that Sylvia Plath herself never gave up the term "lady" and, on the title, indicates the Christian tradition associated with herself. Miriam Johnson states that "It is important to hear the insistent use of the word," and more, "to recognize the courage with which she redeployed it." What could be going on in this poem? To what extent is feminism placed in the poem? Can the fact of being a woman condition that Plath writes this poem in one way or another? We say that this poem begins or presents one controversy rather notable about Plath. Her life and her works are closely linked in her biography, as in most writers, and she knew the poets that were appearing in the moment. She always wanted to be in this group, ironically called the five confessional writers. These poets are considered to be confessional because they discover more than the problem of subjectivity seems to serve them as an excuse to create a specific space for the experience and by way of a specific work of introspection.

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How to write a literary analysis essay | A step-by-step guide

How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay | A Step-by-Step Guide

Published on January 30, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on August 14, 2023.

Literary analysis means closely studying a text, interpreting its meanings, and exploring why the author made certain choices. It can be applied to novels, short stories, plays, poems, or any other form of literary writing.

A literary analysis essay is not a rhetorical analysis , nor is it just a summary of the plot or a book review. Instead, it is a type of argumentative essay where you need to analyze elements such as the language, perspective, and structure of the text, and explain how the author uses literary devices to create effects and convey ideas.

Before beginning a literary analysis essay, it’s essential to carefully read the text and c ome up with a thesis statement to keep your essay focused. As you write, follow the standard structure of an academic essay :

An introduction that tells the reader what your essay will focus on.
A main body, divided into paragraphs , that builds an argument using evidence from the text.
A conclusion that clearly states the main point that you have shown with your analysis.

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Step 1: reading the text and identifying literary devices, step 2: coming up with a thesis, step 3: writing a title and introduction, step 4: writing the body of the essay, step 5: writing a conclusion, other interesting articles.

The first step is to carefully read the text(s) and take initial notes. As you read, pay attention to the things that are most intriguing, surprising, or even confusing in the writing—these are things you can dig into in your analysis.

Your goal in literary analysis is not simply to explain the events described in the text, but to analyze the writing itself and discuss how the text works on a deeper level. Primarily, you’re looking out for literary devices —textual elements that writers use to convey meaning and create effects. If you’re comparing and contrasting multiple texts, you can also look for connections between different texts.

To get started with your analysis, there are several key areas that you can focus on. As you analyze each aspect of the text, try to think about how they all relate to each other. You can use highlights or notes to keep track of important passages and quotes.

Language choices

Consider what style of language the author uses. Are the sentences short and simple or more complex and poetic?

What word choices stand out as interesting or unusual? Are words used figuratively to mean something other than their literal definition? Figurative language includes things like metaphor (e.g. “her eyes were oceans”) and simile (e.g. “her eyes were like oceans”).

Also keep an eye out for imagery in the text—recurring images that create a certain atmosphere or symbolize something important. Remember that language is used in literary texts to say more than it means on the surface.

Narrative voice

Ask yourself:

Who is telling the story?
How are they telling it?

Is it a first-person narrator (“I”) who is personally involved in the story, or a third-person narrator who tells us about the characters from a distance?

Consider the narrator’s perspective . Is the narrator omniscient (where they know everything about all the characters and events), or do they only have partial knowledge? Are they an unreliable narrator who we are not supposed to take at face value? Authors often hint that their narrator might be giving us a distorted or dishonest version of events.

The tone of the text is also worth considering. Is the story intended to be comic, tragic, or something else? Are usually serious topics treated as funny, or vice versa ? Is the story realistic or fantastical (or somewhere in between)?

Consider how the text is structured, and how the structure relates to the story being told.

Novels are often divided into chapters and parts.
Poems are divided into lines, stanzas, and sometime cantos.
Plays are divided into scenes and acts.

Think about why the author chose to divide the different parts of the text in the way they did.

There are also less formal structural elements to take into account. Does the story unfold in chronological order, or does it jump back and forth in time? Does it begin in medias res —in the middle of the action? Does the plot advance towards a clearly defined climax?

With poetry, consider how the rhyme and meter shape your understanding of the text and your impression of the tone. Try reading the poem aloud to get a sense of this.

In a play, you might consider how relationships between characters are built up through different scenes, and how the setting relates to the action. Watch out for dramatic irony , where the audience knows some detail that the characters don’t, creating a double meaning in their words, thoughts, or actions.

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Your thesis in a literary analysis essay is the point you want to make about the text. It’s the core argument that gives your essay direction and prevents it from just being a collection of random observations about a text.

If you’re given a prompt for your essay, your thesis must answer or relate to the prompt. For example:

Essay question example

Is Franz Kafka’s “Before the Law” a religious parable?

Your thesis statement should be an answer to this question—not a simple yes or no, but a statement of why this is or isn’t the case:

Thesis statement example

Franz Kafka’s “Before the Law” is not a religious parable, but a story about bureaucratic alienation.

Sometimes you’ll be given freedom to choose your own topic; in this case, you’ll have to come up with an original thesis. Consider what stood out to you in the text; ask yourself questions about the elements that interested you, and consider how you might answer them.

Your thesis should be something arguable—that is, something that you think is true about the text, but which is not a simple matter of fact. It must be complex enough to develop through evidence and arguments across the course of your essay.

Say you’re analyzing the novel Frankenstein . You could start by asking yourself:

Your initial answer might be a surface-level description:

The character Frankenstein is portrayed negatively in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein .

However, this statement is too simple to be an interesting thesis. After reading the text and analyzing its narrative voice and structure, you can develop the answer into a more nuanced and arguable thesis statement:

Mary Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as.

Remember that you can revise your thesis statement throughout the writing process , so it doesn’t need to be perfectly formulated at this stage. The aim is to keep you focused as you analyze the text.

Finding textual evidence

To support your thesis statement, your essay will build an argument using textual evidence —specific parts of the text that demonstrate your point. This evidence is quoted and analyzed throughout your essay to explain your argument to the reader.

It can be useful to comb through the text in search of relevant quotations before you start writing. You might not end up using everything you find, and you may have to return to the text for more evidence as you write, but collecting textual evidence from the beginning will help you to structure your arguments and assess whether they’re convincing.

To start your literary analysis paper, you’ll need two things: a good title, and an introduction.

Your title should clearly indicate what your analysis will focus on. It usually contains the name of the author and text(s) you’re analyzing. Keep it as concise and engaging as possible.

A common approach to the title is to use a relevant quote from the text, followed by a colon and then the rest of your title.

If you struggle to come up with a good title at first, don’t worry—this will be easier once you’ve begun writing the essay and have a better sense of your arguments.

“Fearful symmetry” : The violence of creation in William Blake’s “The Tyger”

The introduction

The essay introduction provides a quick overview of where your argument is going. It should include your thesis statement and a summary of the essay’s structure.

A typical structure for an introduction is to begin with a general statement about the text and author, using this to lead into your thesis statement. You might refer to a commonly held idea about the text and show how your thesis will contradict it, or zoom in on a particular device you intend to focus on.

Then you can end with a brief indication of what’s coming up in the main body of the essay. This is called signposting. It will be more elaborate in longer essays, but in a short five-paragraph essay structure, it shouldn’t be more than one sentence.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, protagonist Victor Frankenstein is a stable representation of the callous ambition of modern science throughout the novel. This essay, however, argues that far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as. This essay begins by exploring the positive portrayal of Frankenstein in the first volume, then moves on to the creature’s perception of him, and finally discusses the third volume’s narrative shift toward viewing Frankenstein as the creature views him.

Some students prefer to write the introduction later in the process, and it’s not a bad idea. After all, you’ll have a clearer idea of the overall shape of your arguments once you’ve begun writing them!

If you do write the introduction first, you should still return to it later to make sure it lines up with what you ended up writing, and edit as necessary.

The body of your essay is everything between the introduction and conclusion. It contains your arguments and the textual evidence that supports them.

Paragraph structure

A typical structure for a high school literary analysis essay consists of five paragraphs : the three paragraphs of the body, plus the introduction and conclusion.

Each paragraph in the main body should focus on one topic. In the five-paragraph model, try to divide your argument into three main areas of analysis, all linked to your thesis. Don’t try to include everything you can think of to say about the text—only analysis that drives your argument.

In longer essays, the same principle applies on a broader scale. For example, you might have two or three sections in your main body, each with multiple paragraphs. Within these sections, you still want to begin new paragraphs at logical moments—a turn in the argument or the introduction of a new idea.

Robert’s first encounter with Gil-Martin suggests something of his sinister power. Robert feels “a sort of invisible power that drew me towards him.” He identifies the moment of their meeting as “the beginning of a series of adventures which has puzzled myself, and will puzzle the world when I am no more in it” (p. 89). Gil-Martin’s “invisible power” seems to be at work even at this distance from the moment described; before continuing the story, Robert feels compelled to anticipate at length what readers will make of his narrative after his approaching death. With this interjection, Hogg emphasizes the fatal influence Gil-Martin exercises from his first appearance.

Topic sentences

To keep your points focused, it’s important to use a topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph.

A good topic sentence allows a reader to see at a glance what the paragraph is about. It can introduce a new line of argument and connect or contrast it with the previous paragraph. Transition words like “however” or “moreover” are useful for creating smooth transitions:

… The story’s focus, therefore, is not upon the divine revelation that may be waiting beyond the door, but upon the mundane process of aging undergone by the man as he waits.

Nevertheless, the “radiance” that appears to stream from the door is typically treated as religious symbolism.

This topic sentence signals that the paragraph will address the question of religious symbolism, while the linking word “nevertheless” points out a contrast with the previous paragraph’s conclusion.

Using textual evidence

A key part of literary analysis is backing up your arguments with relevant evidence from the text. This involves introducing quotes from the text and explaining their significance to your point.

It’s important to contextualize quotes and explain why you’re using them; they should be properly introduced and analyzed, not treated as self-explanatory:

It isn’t always necessary to use a quote. Quoting is useful when you’re discussing the author’s language, but sometimes you’ll have to refer to plot points or structural elements that can’t be captured in a short quote.

In these cases, it’s more appropriate to paraphrase or summarize parts of the text—that is, to describe the relevant part in your own words:

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The conclusion of your analysis shouldn’t introduce any new quotations or arguments. Instead, it’s about wrapping up the essay. Here, you summarize your key points and try to emphasize their significance to the reader.

A good way to approach this is to briefly summarize your key arguments, and then stress the conclusion they’ve led you to, highlighting the new perspective your thesis provides on the text as a whole:

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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By tracing the depiction of Frankenstein through the novel’s three volumes, I have demonstrated how the narrative structure shifts our perception of the character. While the Frankenstein of the first volume is depicted as having innocent intentions, the second and third volumes—first in the creature’s accusatory voice, and then in his own voice—increasingly undermine him, causing him to appear alternately ridiculous and vindictive. Far from the one-dimensional villain he is often taken to be, the character of Frankenstein is compelling because of the dynamic narrative frame in which he is placed. In this frame, Frankenstein’s narrative self-presentation responds to the images of him we see from others’ perspectives. This conclusion sheds new light on the novel, foregrounding Shelley’s unique layering of narrative perspectives and its importance for the depiction of character.

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How to Write a Poetry Essay: Step-By-Step-Guide

Table of contents

1 What Is A Poetry Analysis?
2 How to Choose a Poem for Analysis?
3.0.1 Introduction
3.0.2 Main Body
3.0.3 Conclusion
4.1 Title of the Poem
4.2 Poetry Background
4.3 Structure of the Poem
4.4 Tone and Intonation of the Poetry
4.5 Language Forms and Symbols of the Poetry
4.6 Poetic devices
4.7 Music of the Poem
4.8 Purpose of Poem
5 Poetry Analysis Template
6 Example of Poem Analysis

Edgar Allan Poe once said:

“Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.”

The reader’s soul enjoys the beauty of the words masterfully expressed by the poet in a few lines. How much meaning is invested in these words, and even more lies behind them? For this reason, poetry is a constant object of scientific interest and the center of literary analysis.

As a university student, especially in literary specialties, you will often come across the need to write a poetry analysis essay. It may seem very difficult when you encounter such an essay for the first time. This is not surprising because even experienced students have difficulty performing such complex studies. This article will point you in the right direction and can be used as a poetry analysis worksheet.

What Is A Poetry Analysis?

Any poetry analysis consists in an in-depth study of the subject of study and the background details in which it is located. Poetry analysis is the process of decomposing a lyrical work into its smallest components for a detailed study of the independent elements. After that, all the data obtained are reassembled to formulate conclusions and write literary analysis . The study of a specific lyric poem also includes the study of the hidden meaning of the poem, the poet’s attitude and main idea, and the expression of individual impressions. After all, the lyrics aim to reach the heart of the reader.

The goal of the poetry analysis is to understand a literary work better. This type of scientific research makes it possible to study entire categories of art on the example of specific works, classify them as certain movements, and find similarities and differences with other poems representing the era.

A poetry analysis essay is a very common type of an essay for university programs, especially in literary and philological areas. Students are often required to have extensive knowledge as well as the ability of in-depth analysis. Such work requires immersion in the context and a high level of concentration.

How to Choose a Poem for Analysis?

You are a really lucky person if you have the opportunity to choose a poem to write a poetry analysis essay independently. After all, any scientific work is moving faster and easier if you are an expert and interested in the field of study. First of all, choose a poet who appeals to you. The piece is not just a set of sentences united by a common meaning. Therefore, it is primarily a reflection of the thoughts and beliefs of the author.

Also, choose a topic that is interesting and close to you. It doesn’t matter if it is an intimate sonnet, a patriotic poem, or a skillful description of nature. The main thing is that it arouses your interest. However, pay attention to the size of the work to make your work easier. The volume should be sufficient to conduct extensive analysis but not too large to meet the requirement for a poem analysis essay.

Well, in the end, your experience and knowledge of the poetry topic are important. Stop choosing the object of study that is within the scope of your competence. In this way, you will share your expert opinion with the public, as well as save yourself from the need for additional data searches required for better understanding.

Poem Analysis Essay Outline

A well-defined structure is a solid framework for your writing. Sometimes our thoughts come quite chaotically, or vice versa, you spend many hours having no idea where to start writing. In both cases, a poem analysis outline will come to your aid. Many students feel that writing an essay plan is a waste of time. However, you should reconsider your views on such a work strategy. And although it will take you time to make a poetry analysis essay outline, it will save you effort later on. While a perfect way out is to ask professionals to write your essays online , let’s still take a look at the key features of creating a paper yourself. Working is much easier and more pleasant when you understand what to start from and what to rely on. Let’s look at the key elements of a poem analysis essay structure.

The essence of a poetry essay outline is to structure and organize your thoughts. You must divide your essay into three main sections: introduction, body, and conclusions. Then list brainstormed ideas that you are going to present in each of these parts.

Introduction

Your essay should begin with an introductory paragraph . The main purpose of this section is to attract the attention of the reader. This will ensure interest in the research. You can also use these paragraphs to provide interesting data from the author of the poem and contextual information that directly relates to your poem but is not a part of the analysis yet.

Another integral part of the poem analysis essay introduction is the strong thesis statement . This technique is used when writing most essays in order to summarize the essence of the paper. The thesis statement opens up your narrative, giving the reader a clear picture of what your work will be about. This element should be short, concise, and self-explanatory.

The central section of a literary analysis essay is going to contain all the studies you’ve carried out. A good idea would be to divide the body into three or four paragraphs, each presenting a new idea. When writing an outline for your essay, determine that in the body part, you will describe:

The central idea.
Analysis of poetic techniques used by the poet.
Your observations considering symbolism.
Various aspects of the poem.

Make sure to include all of the above, but always mind the coherence of your poem literary analysis.

In the final paragraph , you have to list the conclusions to which your poetry analysis came. This is a paragraph that highlights the key points of the study that are worth paying attention to. Ensure that the information in the conclusion matches your goals set in the introduction. The last few lines of a poem usually contain the perfect information for you to wrap up your paper, giving your readers a ground for further thought.

Tips on How to Analyze a Poem

Now, having general theoretical information about what a poetry analysis essay is, what its components are, and how exactly you can make an outline, we are ready to move on to practical data. Let’s take a closer look at the key principles that you should rely on in the poetry analysis. As you might guess, just reading a poem will not be enough to make a comprehensive analysis. You have to pay attention to the smallest details to catch what other researchers have not noticed before you.

Title of the Poem

And although the poems do not always have a title, if the work you have chosen has a name, then this is a good basis for starting the poetry analysis. The title of the poetic work gives the understanding of what the poet considers to be the key ideas of his verse. In some cases, this element directly reflects the theme and idea of the poem. However, there are also common cases when the poet plays with the name, putting the opposite information into it. Look at the correlation between the title and the content of the poem. This may give you new clues to hidden meanings.

Poetry Background

To fully immerse yourself in the context of the verse, you need to study the prerequisites for its writing. Analyze poetry and pay attention to the period of the author’s life in which the work was written. Study what emotions prevailed in a given time. The background information will help you study the verse itself and what is behind it, which is crucial for a critical analysis essay . What was the poet’s motivation, and what sensations prompted him to express himself specifically in this form? Such in-depth research will give you a broad understanding of the author’s intent and make your poem analysis essay writing more solid.

This fragment of your poem analysis essay study also includes interpretations of all the difficult or little-known words. Perhaps the analyzed poem was written using obsolete words or has poetic terms. For a competent poem analysis, you need to have an enhanced comprehension of the concepts.

Structure of the Poem

Each lyrical work consists of key elements. The theory identifies four main components of a poem’s structure: stanza, rhyme, meter, and line break. Let’s clarify each of the terms separately so that you know exactly what you are supposed to analyze.

The stanza is also called a verse. This element is a group of lines joined together and separated from other lines by a gap. This component of the poem structure exists for the ordering of the poem and the logical separation of thoughts.

The next crucial element is rhyme. This is a kind of pattern of similar sounds that make up words. There are different types of a rhyme schemes that a particular poem can follow. The difference between the species lies in the spaces between rhyming words. Thus, the most common rhyme scheme in English literature is iambic pentameter.

The meter stands for a composite of stressed and unstressed syllables, following a single scheme throughout the poem. According to the common silabotonic theory, the poem’s rhythm determines the measure of the verse and its poetic form. In other words, this is the rhythm with which lyrical works are written.

Finally, the line break is a technique for distinguishing between different ideas and sentences within the boundaries of one work. Also, the separation serves the reader as a key to understanding the meaning, thanks to the structuring of thoughts. If the ideas went continuously, this would create an extraordinary load on perception, and the reader would struggle to understand the intended message.

Writing an essay about poetry requires careful attention and analysis. Poems, although short, can be intricate and require a thorough understanding to interpret them effectively. Some students may find it challenging to analyze poetry and may consider getting professional help or pay to do an assignment on poetry. Regardless of the approach, it is essential to create a well-structured essay that examines the poem’s meaning and provides relevant examples.

Tone and Intonation of the Poetry

The tone and intonation of the poem could be analyzed based on two variables, the speaker and the recipient. Considering these two sides of the narrative, you can reach a better overview of the analyzed poem.

The first direction is to dig deeper into the author’s ideas by analyzing thematic elements. Pay attention to any information about the poet that can be gleaned from the poem. What mood was the author in when he wrote it, what exactly he felt, and what he wanted to share? What could he be hiding behind his words? Why did the poet choose the exact literary form? Is it possible to trace a life position or ideology through analysis? All of this information will help you get a clue on how to understand a poem.

The analysis of the figure of the recipient is also going to uncover some crucial keys to coherent study. Analyze a poem and determine whether the poem was written for someone specific or not. Find out whether the poet put motivational value into his work or even called readers to action. Is the writer talking to one person or a whole group? Was the poem based on political or social interests?

Language Forms and Symbols of the Poetry

Having sufficiently analyzed the evident elements of the poem, it is time to pay attention to the images and symbols. This is also called the connotative meaning of the work. It can sometimes get challenging to interpret poems, so we will see which other poetic techniques you should consider in the poetry analysis essay.

To convey intricate ideas and display thoughts more vividly, poets often use figurative language. It mostly explains some terms without directly naming them. Lyrical expression works are rich in literary devices such as metaphor, epithet, hyperbole, personification, and others. It may sometimes get really tough to research those poem elements yourself, so keep in mind buying lit essay online. Descriptive language is also one of the techniques used in poems that requires different literary devices in order to make the story as detailed as possible.

To fully understand poetry, it is not enough just to describe its structure. It is necessary to analyze a poem, find the hidden meanings, multiple artistic means, references the poet makes, and the language of writing.

Poetic devices

Poetic devices, such as rhythm, rhyme, and sounds, are used to immerse the audience. The poets often use figurative techniques in various poems, discovering multiple possibilities for the readers to interpret the poem. To discover the composition dedicated to the precise verse, you need to read the poem carefully. Consider studying poetry analysis essay example papers to better understand the concepts. It is a certain kind of reader’s quest aimed at finding the true meaning of the metaphor the poet has hidden in the poem. Each literary device is always there for a reason. Try to figure out its purpose.

Music of the Poem

Many poems formed the basis of the songs. This does not happen by chance because each poem has its own music. Lyrical works have such elements as rhythm and rhyme. They set the pace for reading. Also, sound elements are often hidden in poems. The line break gives a hint about when to take a long pause. Try to pay attention to the arrangement of words. Perhaps this will reveal you a new vision of the analyzed poem.

Purpose of Poem

While you analyze a poem, you are supposed to search for the purpose. Each work has its purpose for writing. Perhaps this is just a process in which the author shares his emotions, or maybe it’s a skillful description of landscapes written under great impressions. Social lyrics illuminate the situation in society and pressing problems. Pay attention to whether the verse contains a call to action or an instructive context. Your task is to study the poem and analyze the motives for its writing. Understanding the general context, and especially the purpose of the poet will make your analysis unique.

Poetry Analysis Template

To make it easier for you to research, we have compiled a template for writing a poetry analysis essay. The best specialists of the our writing service have assembled the main guides that will serve as a layout for your essay. Choose a poem that suits you and analyze it according to this plan.

Introduction:

The title of the poem or sonnet
The name of the poet
The date the poem was first published
The background information and interesting facts about the poet and the poem
Identify the structure of the poem, and the main components
Find out the data about the speaker and recipient
State the purpose of the poem
Distinguish the topic and the idea of the verse

Figurative language:

Study the literary devices
Search for the hidden meanings

Following these tips, you will write a competitive poem analysis essay. Use these techniques, and you will be able to meet the basic requirements for quality work. However, don’t forget to add personality to your essay. Analyze both the choices of the author of the poem and your own vision. First of all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Do not limit yourself to dry analysis, add your own vision of the poem. In this way, you will get a balanced essay that will appeal to teachers.

Example of Poem Analysis

Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise,” is a powerful anthem of strength and resilience that has become an iconic piece of literature. The poem was written in the 1970s during the civil rights movement and was published in Angelou’s collection of poetry, “And Still I Rise,” in 1978. The structure of the poem is unique in that it is not divided into stanzas but is composed of a series of short phrases that are separated by semicolons. This creates a sense of continuity and momentum as the poem moves forward. The lack of stanzas also reflects the speaker’s determination to keep going, regardless of the obstacles she faces. The tone of the poem is confident and defiant, with a strong sense of pride in the speaker’s identity and heritage. The intonation is rhythmic and musical, with a repeated refrain that emphasizes the theme of rising above adversity. The language forms used in the poem are simple and direct. One of the most powerful symbols in the poem is the image of the rising sun… FULL POEM ANALYSIS

Our database is filled with a wide range of poetry essay examples that can help you understand how to analyze and write about poetry. Whether you are a student trying to improve your essay writing skills or a poetry enthusiast looking to explore different perspectives on your favorite poems, our collection of essays can provide valuable insights and inspiration. So take a look around and discover new ways to appreciate and interpret the power of poetry!

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Introduction

You’ve been assigned a literary analysis paper—what does that even mean? Is it like a book report that you used to write in high school? Well, not really.

A literary analysis essay asks you to make an original argument about a poem, play, or work of fiction and support that argument with research and evidence from your careful reading of the text.

It can take many forms, such as a close reading of a text, critiquing the text through a particular literary theory, comparing one text to another, or criticizing another critic’s interpretation of the text. While there are many ways to structure a literary essay, writing this kind of essay follows generally follows a similar process for everyone

Crafting a good literary analysis essay begins with good close reading of the text, in which you have kept notes and observations as you read. This will help you with the first step, which is selecting a topic to write about—what jumped out as you read, what are you genuinely interested in? The next step is to focus your topic, developing it into an argument—why is this subject or observation important? Why should your reader care about it as much as you do? The third step is to gather evidence to support your argument, for literary analysis, support comes in the form of evidence from the text and from your research on what other literary critics have said about your topic. Only after you have performed these steps, are you ready to begin actually writing your essay.

Writing a Literary Analysis Essay

How to create a topic and conduct research:.

Writing an Analysis of a Poem, Story, or Play

If you are taking a literature course, it is important that you know how to write an analysis—sometimes called an interpretation or a literary analysis or a critical reading or a critical analysis—of a story, a poem, and a play. Your instructor will probably assign such an analysis as part of the course assessment. On your mid-term or final exam, you might have to write an analysis of one or more of the poems and/or stories on your reading list. Or the dreaded “sight poem or story” might appear on an exam, a work that is not on the reading list, that you have not read before, but one your instructor includes on the exam to examine your ability to apply the active reading skills you have learned in class to produce, independently, an effective literary analysis.You might be asked to write instead or, or in addition to an analysis of a literary work, a more sophisticated essay in which you compare and contrast the protagonists of two stories, or the use of form and metaphor in two poems, or the tragic heroes in two plays.

You might learn some literary theory in your course and be asked to apply theory—feminist, Marxist, reader-response, psychoanalytic, new historicist, for example—to one or more of the works on your reading list. But the seminal assignment in a literature course is the analysis of the single poem, story, novel, or play, and, even if you do not have to complete this assignment specifically, it will form the basis of most of the other writing assignments you will be required to undertake in your literature class. There are several ways of structuring a literary analysis, and your instructor might issue specific instructions on how he or she wants this assignment done. The method presented here might not be identical to the one your instructor wants you to follow, but it will be easy enough to modify, if your instructor expects something a bit different, and it is a good default method, if your instructor does not issue more specific guidelines.You want to begin your analysis with a paragraph that provides the context of the work you are analyzing and a brief account of what you believe to be the poem or story or play’s main theme. At a minimum, your account of the work’s context will include the name of the author, the title of the work, its genre, and the date and place of publication. If there is an important biographical or historical context to the work, you should include that, as well.Try to express the work’s theme in one or two sentences. Theme, you will recall, is that insight into human experience the author offers to readers, usually revealed as the content, the drama, the plot of the poem, story, or play unfolds and the characters interact. Assessing theme can be a complex task. Authors usually show the theme; they don’t tell it. They rarely say, at the end of the story, words to this effect: “and the moral of my story is…” They tell their story, develop their characters, provide some kind of conflict—and from all of this theme emerges. Because identifying theme can be challenging and subjective, it is often a good idea to work through the rest of the analysis, then return to the beginning and assess theme in light of your analysis of the work’s other literary elements.Here is a good example of an introductory paragraph from Ben’s analysis of William Butler Yeats’ poem, “Among School Children.”

“Among School Children” was published in Yeats’ 1928 collection of poems The Tower. It was inspired by a visit Yeats made in 1926 to school in Waterford, an official visit in his capacity as a senator of the Irish Free State. In the course of the tour, Yeats reflects upon his own youth and the experiences that shaped the “sixty-year old, smiling public man” (line 8) he has become. Through his reflection, the theme of the poem emerges: a life has meaning when connections among apparently disparate experiences are forged into a unified whole.

In the body of your literature analysis, you want to guide your readers through a tour of the poem, story, or play, pausing along the way to comment on, analyze, interpret, and explain key incidents, descriptions, dialogue, symbols, the writer’s use of figurative language—any of the elements of literature that are relevant to a sound analysis of this particular work. Your main goal is to explain how the elements of literature work to elucidate, augment, and develop the theme. The elements of literature are common across genres: a story, a narrative poem, and a play all have a plot and characters. But certain genres privilege certain literary elements. In a poem, for example, form, imagery and metaphor might be especially important; in a story, setting and point-of-view might be more important than they are in a poem; in a play, dialogue, stage directions, lighting serve functions rarely relevant in the analysis of a story or poem.

The length of the body of an analysis of a literary work will usually depend upon the length of work being analyzed—the longer the work, the longer the analysis—though your instructor will likely establish a word limit for this assignment. Make certain that you do not simply paraphrase the plot of the story or play or the content of the poem. This is a common weakness in student literary analyses, especially when the analysis is of a poem or a play.

Here is a good example of two body paragraphs from Amelia’s analysis of “Araby” by James Joyce.

Within the story’s first few paragraphs occur several religious references which will accumulate as the story progresses. The narrator is a student at the Christian Brothers’ School; the former tenant of his house was a priest; he left behind books called The Abbot and The Devout Communicant. Near the end of the story’s second paragraph the narrator describes a “central apple tree” in the garden, under which is “the late tenant’s rusty bicycle pump.” We may begin to suspect the tree symbolizes the apple tree in the Garden of Eden and the bicycle pump, the snake which corrupted Eve, a stretch, perhaps, until Joyce’s fall-of-innocence theme becomes more apparent.

The narrator must continue to help his aunt with her errands, but, even when he is so occupied, his mind is on Mangan’s sister, as he tries to sort out his feelings for her. Here Joyce provides vivid insight into the mind of an adolescent boy at once elated and bewildered by his first crush. He wants to tell her of his “confused adoration,” but he does not know if he will ever have the chance. Joyce’s description of the pleasant tension consuming the narrator is conveyed in a striking simile, which continues to develop the narrator’s character, while echoing the religious imagery, so important to the story’s theme: “But my body was like a harp, and her words and gestures were like fingers, running along the wires.”

The concluding paragraph of your analysis should realize two goals. First, it should present your own opinion on the quality of the poem or story or play about which you have been writing. And, second, it should comment on the current relevance of the work. You should certainly comment on the enduring social relevance of the work you are explicating. You may comment, though you should never be obliged to do so, on the personal relevance of the work. Here is the concluding paragraph from Dao-Ming’s analysis of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.

First performed in 1895, The Importance of Being Earnest has been made into a film, as recently as 2002 and is regularly revived by professional and amateur theatre companies. It endures not only because of the comic brilliance of its characters and their dialogue, but also because its satire still resonates with contemporary audiences. I am still amazed that I see in my own Asian mother a shadow of Lady Bracknell, with her obsession with finding for her daughter a husband who will maintain, if not, ideally, increase the family’s social status. We might like to think we are more liberated and socially sophisticated than our Victorian ancestors, but the starlets and eligible bachelors who star in current reality television programs illustrate the extent to which superficial concerns still influence decisions about love and even marriage. Even now, we can turn to Oscar Wilde to help us understand and laugh at those who are earnest in name only.

Dao-Ming’s conclusion is brief, but she does manage to praise the play, reaffirm its main theme, and explain its enduring appeal. And note how her last sentence cleverly establishes that sense of closure that is also a feature of an effective analysis.

You may, of course, modify the template that is presented here. Your instructor might favour a somewhat different approach to literary analysis. Its essence, though, will be your understanding and interpretation of the theme of the poem, story, or play and the skill with which the author shapes the elements of literature—plot, character, form, diction, setting, point of view—to support the theme.

BC Open Textbooks: English Literature Victorians and Moderns: https://opentextbc.ca/englishliterature/back-matter/appendix-5-writing-an-analysis-of-a-poem-story-and-play/

Literary Analysis

The challenges of writing about english literature.

Writing begins with the act of reading . While this statement is true for most college papers, strong English papers tend to be the product of highly attentive reading (and rereading). When your instructors ask you to do a “close reading,” they are asking you to read not only for content, but also for structures and patterns. When you perform a close reading, then, you observe how form and content interact. In some cases, form reinforces content: for example, in John Donne’s Holy Sonnet 14, where the speaker invites God’s “force” “to break, blow, burn and make [him] new.” Here, the stressed monosyllables of the verbs “break,” “blow” and “burn” evoke aurally the force that the speaker invites from God. In other cases, form raises questions about content: for example, a repeated denial of guilt will likely raise questions about the speaker’s professed innocence. When you close read, take an inductive approach. Start by observing particular details in the text, such as a repeated image or word, an unexpected development, or even a contradiction. Often, a detail–such as a repeated image–can help you to identify a question about the text that warrants further examination. So annotate details that strike you as you read. Some of those details will eventually help you to work towards a thesis. And don’t worry if a detail seems trivial. If you can make a case about how an apparently trivial detail reveals something significant about the text, then your paper will have a thought-provoking thesis to argue.

Common Types of English Papers Many assignments will ask you to analyze a single text. Others, however, will ask you to read two or more texts in relation to each other, or to consider a text in light of claims made by other scholars and critics. For most assignments, close reading will be central to your paper. While some assignment guidelines will suggest topics and spell out expectations in detail, others will offer little more than a page limit. Approaching the writing process in the absence of assigned topics can be daunting, but remember that you have resources: in section, you will probably have encountered some examples of close reading; in lecture, you will have encountered some of the course’s central questions and claims. The paper is a chance for you to extend a claim offered in lecture, or to analyze a passage neglected in lecture. In either case, your analysis should do more than recapitulate claims aired in lecture and section. Because different instructors have different goals for an assignment, you should always ask your professor or TF if you have questions. These general guidelines should apply in most cases:

A close reading of a single text: Depending on the length of the text, you will need to be more or less selective about what you choose to consider. In the case of a sonnet, you will probably have enough room to analyze the text more thoroughly than you would in the case of a novel, for example, though even here you will probably not analyze every single detail. By contrast, in the case of a novel, you might analyze a repeated scene, image, or object (for example, scenes of train travel, images of decay, or objects such as or typewriters). Alternately, you might analyze a perplexing scene (such as a novel’s ending, albeit probably in relation to an earlier moment in the novel). But even when analyzing shorter works, you will need to be selective. Although you might notice numerous interesting details as you read, not all of those details will help you to organize a focused argument about the text. For example, if you are focusing on depictions of sensory experience in Keats’ “Ode to a Nightingale,” you probably do not need to analyze the image of a homeless Ruth in stanza 7, unless this image helps you to develop your case about sensory experience in the poem.
A theoretically-informed close reading. In some courses, you will be asked to analyze a poem, a play, or a novel by using a critical theory (psychoanalytic, postcolonial, gender, etc). For example, you might use Kristeva’s theory of abjection to analyze mother-daughter relations in Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved. Critical theories provide focus for your analysis; if “abjection” is the guiding concept for your paper, you should focus on the scenes in the novel that are most relevant to the concept.
A historically-informed close reading. In courses with a historicist orientation, you might use less self-consciously literary documents, such as newspapers or devotional manuals, to develop your analysis of a literary work. For example, to analyze how Robinson Crusoe makes sense of his island experiences, you might use Puritan tracts that narrate events in terms of how God organizes them. The tracts could help you to show not only how Robinson Crusoe draws on Puritan narrative conventions, but also—more significantly—how the novel revises those conventions.
A comparison of two texts When analyzing two texts, you might look for unexpected contrasts between apparently similar texts, or unexpected similarities between apparently dissimilar texts, or for how one text revises or transforms the other. Keep in mind that not all of the similarities, differences, and transformations you identify will be relevant to an argument about the relationship between the two texts. As you work towards a thesis, you will need to decide which of those similarities, differences, or transformations to focus on. Moreover, unless instructed otherwise, you do not need to allot equal space to each text (unless this 50/50 allocation serves your thesis well, of course). Often you will find that one text helps to develop your analysis of another text. For example, you might analyze the transformation of Ariel’s song from The Tempest in T. S. Eliot’s poem, The Waste Land. Insofar as this analysis is interested in the afterlife of Ariel’s song in a later poem, you would likely allot more space to analyzing allusions to Ariel’s song in The Waste Land (after initially establishing the song’s significance in Shakespeare’s play, of course).
A response paper A response paper is a great opportunity to practice your close reading skills without having to develop an entire argument. In most cases, a solid approach is to select a rich passage that rewards analysis (for example, one that depicts an important scene or a recurring image) and close read it. While response papers are a flexible genre, they are not invitations for impressionistic accounts of whether you liked the work or a particular character. Instead, you might use your close reading to raise a question about the text—to open up further investigation, rather than to supply a solution.
A research paper. In most cases, you will receive guidance from the professor on the scope of the research paper. It is likely that you will be expected to consult sources other than the assigned readings. Hollis is your best bet for book titles, and the MLA bibliography (available through e-resources) for articles. When reading articles, make sure that they have been peer reviewed; you might also ask your TF to recommend reputable journals in the field.

Harvard College Writing Program: https://writingproject.fas.harvard.edu/files/hwp/files/bg_writing_english.pdf

In the same way that we talk with our friends about the latest episode of Game of Thrones or newest Marvel movie, scholars communicate their ideas and interpretations of literature through written literary analysis essays. Literary analysis essays make us better readers of literature.

Only through careful reading and well-argued analysis can we reach new understandings and interpretations of texts that are sometimes hundreds of years old. Literary analysis brings new meaning and can shed new light on texts. Building from careful reading and selecting a topic that you are genuinely interested in, your argument supports how you read and understand a text. Using examples from the text you are discussing in the form of textual evidence further supports your reading. Well-researched literary analysis also includes information about what other scholars have written about a specific text or topic.

Literary analysis helps us to refine our ideas, question what we think we know, and often generates new knowledge about literature. Literary analysis essays allow you to discuss your own interpretation of a given text through careful examination of the choices the original author made in the text.

Share This Book

The word “rhyme” refers to the pattern of similar sounding words used in writing.

E.g. An example of a rhyme is : " The cat and the hat , sat on a mat ".

Related terms: Internal rhyme , rhyme scheme , rhyme scheme of sonnets , free verse , alliteration , assonance , consonance , meter

Rhyme takes many different forms, follows different patterns, and is used in a wide variety of ways. It is most common in poetry, but there are examples to be found in prose . It is usually used when the writer wants to make their poetry sound more musical than it already does. By connecting words via the same consonant and assonant sounds, the poem can feel more pleasing to the ear and more song-like. Rhyme was traditionally used in poetry for centuries, but in recent years poets have started using free verse .

Explore Rhyme

1 Rhyme Definition
2 Common Rhyme Schemes
3 Common Types of Rhyme
4 Examples of Rhyme in Poetry
6 Related Literary Terms
7 Other Resources

Rhyme Definition

Rhyme is the use of corresponding sounds in lines of writing. This can occur at the end of lines or in the middle. The most commonly resigned type of rhyme is full-end rhymes . These appear at the end of lines and rhyme perfectly with one another.

To create a rhyme, the piece of writing has to have two or more similar-sounding words. It can be used to help unify a piece of poetry or create a specific effect. The rhyme might make the poem sound more upbeat or more haunting, depending on how it’s used.

Common Rhyme Schemes

There are many different ways writers might use rhyme in their poetry. They might make a few words throughout the poem rhyme or maintain a consistent pattern. Below are a few examples of some possible rhyme schemes a poet might engage with.

Alternate Rhyme : the first and third lines of a stanza rhyme, and the second and fourth lines rhyme, ABAB. This is used in poems with four or eight-line stanzas —for example, the first lines of ‘ Neither Out Far not in Deep ‘ by Robert Frost .
Triplet : uses a rhyme scheme of AAA in sets of three. For example, ‘ Upon Julia’s Clothes ‘ by Robert Herrick .
Couplet : uses a rhyme scheme of AA in sets of two. For example, ‘ A Poison Tree ‘ by William Blake . Read more poetry from William Blake .
Ballad : contains three stanzas and uses the rhyme scheme ABABBCBC.
Shakespearean Sonnet : uses iambic pentameter and rhymes ABABCDCDEFEFGG. For example, ‘ Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day ‘ by William Shakespeare .

Common Types of Rhyme

The three most common types of rhyme in poetry are:

Full rhyme : also known as a perfect rhyme . These rhymes share the same number of syllables and the same assonance.
Half-rhyme : also known as slant, imperfect , and near rhyme . This rhyme is formed by words that are not identical but are similar, in assonance and/or the number of syllables.
Internal rhyme : rhymes that appear in the middle of lines rather than at the end of lines.

These rhyme schemes and types of rhyme are only a few examples. Read more about rhyme in poetry with the article: Everything You Need to Know about Rhyme Schemes in Poetry .

Examples of Rhyme in Poetry

The raven by edgar allan poe.

This well-loved, long poem is a great example of how rhyme can be used. The poet chose to make use of eighteen six-line stanzas. Throughout, the poet uses trochaic octameter , a very distinctive metrical form and a very consistent rhyme scheme of ABCBBB. Many of the lines end with the same words. For example, “ore” in “Lenore” and “Nevermore.” Consider these lines as an example of how rhyme can be used to create a haunting and disturbing atmosphere :

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore— While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. “’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door— Only this and nothing more.”

These are the famous first lines of the poem, and they introduce the reader to the strange world that Poe’s speaker is inhabiting.

Explore more Edgar Allan Poe poems .

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

In the famous lines of this Frost poem, readers can find the following rhyme scheme: AABA BBCB CCDC DDD. It follows a simple pattern that may feel akin to a nursery rhyme when read out loud. It works within a classic Rubaiyat stanza. Rubaiyat is a Persian term for ‘ quatrain ,’ denoting a four-lined stanza. Here are the first lines of the poem:

Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.

In this stanza, the pattern of AABA is quite clear. Frost uses perfect rhymes in the first, second, and fourth lines.

A Silly Poem by Spike Milligan

In this funny, children’s poem, the poet uses a rhyme scheme of ABCB. There are only four lines in the piece, and therefore, each rhyme is even more impactful. It also uses a steady rhythm that, in addition to the rhyme, makes the poem easy and fun to read. The first two lines read:

Said Hamlet to Ophelia, I’ll draw a sketch of thee,

The following two lines are two questions and contain the punchline of the joke.

What kind of pencil shall I use? 2B or not 2B?

Discover Spike Milligan’s poetry .

Poems rhyme to create more musical-sounding verse in order to convey a specific feeling, create a feeling of unity, or even entertain a young reader through humor .

Rhyme is important in some poems. For those who use it, it’s important to maintain a particular form and creating a feeling of unity throughout the lines. It can also increase the musicality of the piece.

Free verse is the lack of a rhyme scheme or metrical pattern in poetry.

Sonnets usually rhyme either ABABCDCDEFEFGG or start with ABBAABBA and conclude with either CDCD or CCDD.

Rhyme is the use of similar-sounding words in lines of verse . They can appear in the middle or at the ends of lines and rhyme perfectly or incompletely.

Related Literary Terms

Rhyme Scheme of Sonnets : sonnets usually conform to one of two different rhyme schemes, those connected to the Shakespearean and the Petrarchan sonnet forms.
Rhetoric : the use of language effectively in writing or speech to persuade the audience .
Terza Rima : the use of language effectively in writing or speech to persuade the audience.
Iambic Pentameter : a very common way that lines of poetry are structured. It refers to lines that contain five sets of two beats, the first of which is unstressed and the second stressed.
Canto : a subsection of a long narrative or epic poem . It is made up of at least five lines, but it is normally much longer.
Epic Poetry : a long narrative poem that tells the story of heroic deeds, normally accomplished by more-than-human characters.

Other Resources

Watch: Rhyme and Rhyme Scheme in Poetry
Watch: The Pleasure of Poetic Pattern
Listen: Poetry | Rhyme Scheme, Rhythm, Repetition

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Baldwin, Emma. "Rhyme". Poem Analysis , https://poemanalysis.com/literary-device/rhyme/ . Accessed 8 June 2024.

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🐈 Writing a critical analysis paper. How To Write A Critical Analysis Essay: Full Guide. 2022-11-06
🔥 The study of poetry analysis. Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston. 2022-11-05
Critical Analysis of The Poem
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How to write a critical analysis essay pdf
What Is a Critical Analysis Essay? Simple Guide With Examples

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How to Write a Poetry Essay (Complete Guide)
Main Paragraphs. Now, we come to the main body of the essay, the quality of which will ultimately determine the strength of our essay. This section should comprise of 4-5 paragraphs, and each of these should analyze an aspect of the poem and then link the effect that aspect creates to the poem's themes or message.
A Full Guide to Writing a Perfect Poem Analysis Essay
Body Paragraphs. The body section should form the main part of poetry analysis. Make sure you have determined a clear focus for your analysis and are ready to elaborate on the main message and meaning of the poem. Mention the tone of the poetry, its speaker, try to describe the recipient of the poem's idea.
Poetry Analysis Essay: Expert Guide with Examples and Tips
A summary of the poetry analysis essay provides a concise overview of its content and structure. It helps the reader grasp the key elements of the poem before delving into the analysis. You need to: Summarize the content and structure of the poem. Highlight key events, images, or ideas presented in the poem.
How to Write a Poetry Analysis Essay Step by Step
Poem analysis essay conclusion. In the conclusion, restate your thesis in light of the evidence provided. Your conclusion should leave a reader with the satisfying feeling of closure — your ...
PDF Developing a Thesis for a Critical Analysis of a Poem
Follow the steps below to develop a thesis for your essay on your chosen poem. The work involves brainstorming and writing answers to questions, so get pencil and paper or boot up your computer. Note that some questions apply more directly to one or the other of the two poems: Read the poem several times. Read it out loud at least once.
Writing About Poetry
In order to write effectively about poetry, one needs a clear idea of what the point of writing about poetry is. When you are assigned an analytical essay about a poem in an English class, the goal of the assignment is usually to argue a specific thesis about the poem, using your analysis of specific elements in the poem and how those elements ...
How do you write a critical analysis of a poem?
Since poetry is written to be heard, any analysis should start with the language and how it sounds. Look for any rhythmic pattern that may be present. Listen for the sounds of the words; are there ...
Mastering Poem Analysis: Expert Essay Tips
To make sure your essay leaves a lasting impression on the readers' minds, ensure to analyze each word used in the poem. Understand the wordplays and how those are used in the piece. Also, ensure to identify the literary devices used in the poem to make the essay stand out from the crowd.
How to write poetry analysis essay: from A to Z
The poetry analysis essay outline will help you decide on the basic structure and help to organize the writing process to make all the work much easier. Poetry analysis essay: structure and style. Based on the poetry analysis essay outline, your paper should have a standard structure of all essays on poems: introduction, the main body, and ...
Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Poetry Analysis Essay
Pay attention to the use of language, word choice, and imagery. Consider the tone and mood of the poem. Look for patterns or repetitions in the poem. Think about the emotions evoked by the poem. Identifying the theme of a poem requires careful analysis and interpretation.
13.4: Sample essay on a poem
Example: Sample essay written on a Langston Hughes' poem. The following essay is a student's analysis of Langston Hughes' poem "I, Too" (poem published in 1926) I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen. When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong.
How to Write a Poetry Analysis
A poetry analysis is a literary essay that focuses on the reader's understanding of a poem. Elements of poetry, including theme, structure and writing style, should be included in the discussion. A poetry analysis is organized as any literary essay to include an introduction with thesis, body paragraphs with evidence and a conclusion.
Writing the Analysis of a Poem, Short Story, or Play
Overview. The opening assignment in this literature-themed writing course is the analysis of the single poem, story, novel, or play. This assignment will form the basis of most of the other writing assignments you will be required to undertake in your Writ 102 literature class. It is important that you know how to write an analysis—sometimes ...
How do you critically analyze "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe?
Share Cite. To write a critical analysis of " The Raven " or any other poem, you need to find a place to focus. Some good areas to start are theme and literary devices. The theme of a poem is ...
How to Write a Poem Analysis Essay: Outline, Template & Structure
Here is an outline of a poem analysis essay to use: Opening paragraph - Introduce the Poem, title, author and background.. Body of text - Make most of the analysis, linking ideas and referencing to the poem.. Conclusion - State one main idea, feelings and meanings.. Poem Analysis Essay Introduction. To start an introduction to a poem analysis essay, include the name of the poem and the author.
How to Write a Good Poem Analysis
Step One: Write about Context of the Poem. When you need to prepare a poem analysis, you should start with the presentation of the general information about it. It is important to learn about the background information of your poem if you want to understand its meaning and hidden ideas. To begin with, pay attention to the author.
How do I write a critical appreciation of a poem?
Expert Answers. A simple way to structure a critical analysis of a poem is to follow a D-A-C format. "D" represents the denotation of the piece, or the face value meaning. Simply relate in ...
How to write a literary analysis essay for a poem
Writing a three paragraph literary analysis essay for "Storm Warnings" by Adrienne Rich
Critical Analysis of the Poem 'If' by Rudyard Kipling
1. Introduction. The poem 'If' is a motivational or inspirational work, meant to encourage the reader or listener to strive for all he can be or do. It is a beautifully put together piece, written in the elegant simplicity of an older time and might be valued as an example of elegant and stylish language or just simply for sound advice ...
PDF How to write a critical analysis of an extract from a play or novel
committing the deadliest of critical analysis sins: retelling the story. The structure of a critical analysis: As with any essay, your critical analysis needs an introduction, a body and a conclusion. In the introduction, you will contextualise the extract for the reader and give a brief discussion of what you will discuss in the rest of your ...
Essay on Paradise Lost: Critical Analysis of Poetry
Conclusion. 1. Introduction. One of the most accomplished examples of this type of play, John Milton's Paradise Lost and the poetry of its numerous imitators and parodists in the next three centuries might be seen as so many instances of a form of literary self-torment, anxious outcries from within the belly of the beast.
Critical Analysis of Poetry by Sylvia Plath
1. Introduction to Sylvia Plath and Lady Lazarus Any analysis of how language represents the human must necessarily come to terms with the linguistic exploration undertaken by Sylvia Plath. Herewith we confine our critical study to the poem Lady Lazarus for the forthcoming reasons: Lady Lazarus belongs to her final volume, Ariel, which is also the high point of her poetic creativity. In this ...
How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay
Table of contents. Step 1: Reading the text and identifying literary devices. Step 2: Coming up with a thesis. Step 3: Writing a title and introduction. Step 4: Writing the body of the essay. Step 5: Writing a conclusion. Other interesting articles.
A Critical Essay About The Poem Equality
The critical essay provides a summary and analysis of Maya Angelou's poem "Equality". It discusses the background of the poem, including details about Angelou and the purpose of the poem in calling for racial and gender equality. The essay evaluates Angelou's style in using metaphors, imagery, and repetition to persuasively convey the experience of discrimination from the perspective of black ...
Stanza in Poetry: Definition and Examples
Related Literary Terms . Octave: an eight-line stanza or poem.; Repetition: an important literary technique that sees a writer reuse words or phrases multiple times.; Rondel: has two quatrains that are followed by a quintet, a set of five lines.The verse form has its origins in the lyrical poetry of 14th-century France.; Refrain: used in poems and songs.. They are repeated sections of text ...
Repetition in Poetry: Definition and Examples
An example of repetition is: "The old man walked down the street, down the street, down the street". This might also include a certain kind of word, image, or any other kind of pattern in a poem. For example, the use of a specific ending, rhyme scheme, action, and so on. In literature, there are many different ways this poetic device is used.
Verse in Poetry
Verse is a term that refers to various parts of poetry, such as a single line of poetry, a stanza, or the entire poem. E.g. An example of verse is the blank verse poem ' As the Team's Head-Brass' by Edward Thomas. Traditionally, if a piece of writing is in meter it can be described as "verse.".
How to Write a Poetry Analysis Essay: Step-By-Step-Guide
The central section of a literary analysis essay is going to contain all the studies you've carried out. A good idea would be to divide the body into three or four paragraphs, each presenting a new idea. When writing an outline for your essay, determine that in the body part, you will describe: The central idea.
Writing a Literary Analysis Essay
Well, not really. A literary analysis essay asks you to make an original argument about a poem, play, or work of fiction and support that argument with research and evidence from your careful reading of the text. It can take many forms, such as a close reading of a text, critiquing the text through a particular literary theory, comparing one ...
Rhyme in Poetry
Rhyme. The word "rhyme" refers to the pattern of similar sounding words used in writing. E.g. An example of a rhyme is: "The cat and the hat, sat on a mat". Rhyme takes many different forms, follows different patterns, and is used in a wide variety of ways. It is most common in poetry, but there are examples to be found in prose.

A Full Guide to Writing a Perfect Poem Analysis Essay

What Is a Poetry Analysis Essay?

Preparing for the Poetry Analysis Writing

Thoroughly read the poem several times

Find out more about the poem background

Define a subject matter of the poem

Choose poem theories you will support

How to Choose a Poem to Analyze?

Best Poem Analysis Essay Topics

Poem Analysis Essay Outline

Introduction

Body Paragraphs

Poem Analysis Essay Examples

Writing Tips for a Poetry Analysis Essay

Write a Poetry Analysis Essay with HandmadeWriting

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Poetry Analysis Essay Guide: Structure, Examples, and Writing Tips

What is a poetry analysis essay? Quick explanation

How to choose a topic for a poetry analysis essay?

Poetry analysis essay outline with examples

Introduction

Poem summary

Analysis of poetic devices

Analysis of themes

Poetry analysis essay: full guide

Tone and intonation of the poetry

Language and imagery

Writing poetry analysis essay: key points

Poetry analysis essay template

Tips on how to write a poetry analysis essay

In conclusion

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All About Poem Analysis Essay: Method, Outline, Template And Structure

What is a Poetry Analysis?

A Full Guide to Writing a Perfect Poem Analysis Essay

Read and identify the type of poem

Look for more background information

Identify the poem’s subject matter

Choose the theories you support

Poetry Analysis: How to Analyze a Poem?

Map the rhyme scheme

Scanning the poem

Analyze the poem’s language

Identify the narrator

Poetry Analysis Essay Outline

Introduction

Body of the essay

How to Write a Poetry Analysis Essay Step by Step?

Understand your audience

Make an argument

Use quotes from the poem

How to Choose a Topic for a Poetry Analysis Essay?

How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay for a Poem?

Poetry Analysis Template

Poetry Analysis Essay Example

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How to write poetry analysis essay: from A to Z

How to deal with a poetry analysis essay

Things to do before you analyze poem

Poem analysis essay: topic and outline

Poetry analysis essay: structure and style

Poetry analysis essay example

Writing tips on how to analyze poem

Essay Papers Writing Online

Choose a Poem

Read and Understand the Poem

Identify the Theme