How to Read Poetry
Approach to Poetry
1. Read the poem once through to get a feel for it. Try to get a basic understanding
of the subject, speaker and the situation.
2. Read the poem again, aloud, and pay attention to the structure and stylistic
devices that can help you gain a better understanding.
3. Define any words or phrases that impede your understanding then read it again if
necessary.
4. Answer the following poetry questions.
Poetry Questions:
1. Subject: What is the topic/subject of the poem?
2. Speaker: Who would say something like this?
3. Situation: Under what circumstances would someone say this?
4. Diction: Describe the author’s word choice. What types of words are used? What
do they look like?
5. Figurative Language: Is there any figurative language (metaphor, simile,
personification) in the poem? What other stylistic devices are created by the
author’s use of words? What is the effect on the poem’s meaning?
6. Tone: What is the tone of the poem? What is the effect of the words used and the
stylistic devices created by the words?
7. Imagery: Explain any imagery in the poem. What is the source of that imagery?
How does the use of imagery contribute to the meaning/ your understanding of
the poem?
8. Theme: What is the theme (meaning) of the poem? What are some of the “big
ideas” the poem brings to mind? Hint: return to the subject! Explain and support
your answer.