: title, paraphrase, connotation, diction, attitude, tone, shift(s), title, and theme
Title: Before reading the entire poem, just focus on the title.
Write down what you think the poem might be about based on the title.
Paraphrase: Read the entire poem once. Start reading the poem again, but this time after reading each sentence, retell the poem in your own words.
Just concentrate on the literal meaning.
Connotation: Examine the poem at a deeper level. Look at key words and phrases, figurative language, imagery, and sound devices. Describe how these elements are connected with certain feelings and emotions.
Attitude: Attitude, or tone, is the way the speaker feels about the subject of the poem.
Describe how the speaker feels based on the diction (word choice), imagery, and details that are in the poem. Make sure you concentrate on just one or two tone words. Tone words are adjectives, and if you need a list of tone words, there are many lists on the internet.

Shift: Describe any shifts in the tone or mood of the poem. A shift can occur with changes in diction or with certain transitional words such as but,
yet, however, although, etc.
Punctuation and changes in line length are also indicators of shifts in tone/mood.
Title: Go back to the title and think about what it means again. Describe what you think the title means now that you have analyzed key aspects of the poem.
Theme: Describe the overall message of the poem. What point or commentary is the poem attempting to convey.