Poetry Analysis Essay
Prompt: Select one of the poems we have studied in class (or an approved self-selected poem of your
choice). For that poem, you will write a 3-3.5 page analysis essay in which you identify the poetic
elements used in the poem and explain how those elements contribute to conveying the poem’s theme.
The essay should be typed in MLA format and the final draft will either be included IN your scrapbook or
UPLOADED to your poetry wikispace.
*Use your TIME analysis notes to help you with your response.
Outline:
I. Introduction
A.
B.
C.
D.
Hook/Lead (Attention-getter to lead into the subject of your essay)
State TAG (title, author, genre)
Briefly summarize the poem (speaker and situation)
Clear THESIS that states the main elements used and how it contributes to the theme
II. Body
A. Meaning and Message (T)
i. Surface Meaning (what is happening in the poem?)
ii. Deeper Meaning (what is the poem actually about?)
iii. Theme (what is the poem’s message about an aspect in life?)
B. Poetic Elements – what are they (I-M-E)
iv. Imagery/Symbolism
v. Language Devices
vi. Sound Devices
C. Contribution to Theme
i. What the poetic elements reveal (meaning  mood/tone)
ii. Why they were used/how they relate or help in conveying the theme
III.
Conclusion
i. Summarize the main points you discuss in the body
ii. Rephrase the THESIS in a different way
iii. Clincher: Relate the poem’s message (theme) to broader themes in life. What can we
learn from it? Ask yourself, “so what?”