Poetry Analysis and Explication
Surface Level Questions
You can develop an understanding of the surface level of a poem by asking several basic questions.
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Who is the speaker or speakers?
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Who are the characters in the poem?
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What is the subject or situation of the poem?
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What are the events in the poem?
When do the events in the poem take place?
Where do the events in the poem take place?
Deeper Level Questions
You can develop a deeper understanding of a poem by asking several questions about how the poem is written. This requires that you look at both the structure and the content of the poem.
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Is there a rhyme scheme? If so, what is it? Does it fit any of the patterns you have been taught?
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How is the poem divided? Does it have multiple stanzas or just one?
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Are there any unfamiliar words?
If so, define them.
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What kind of vocabulary does the poet use? Conversational?
Informal? Formal?
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Are the sentences and lines in normal word order or are they in inverted word order?
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Are there repetitions or patterns in the poem?
Application Level
Now is the time to apply what you learned in the surface level and deeper level. Take the information that you learned in those two levels and apply it to the following questions.
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What is the central idea the poet is trying to convey?
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What is the attitude or tone the poet is trying to convey?
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What is the theme of the poem?
Is it simple or complex? Is there a universal theme?
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What lines contribute to the development of the theme?
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How does the central idea, tone, or theme apply to your world?
These questions should have furthered your understanding of the selected poem. Look back over your poetry analysis and make sure that you answered all questions completely and in paragraph form.