Poetry Analysis Essay
Typed hard copy due in class on Tuesday, December 15
The Prompt
Write an essay in which you analyze your poem’s literary elements
(parts of the poem and figures of speech) and use this analysis to
interpret the theme of the poem.
In other words, what is the poem saying and what literary elements
does the author use to demonstrate this message?
Thesis
The answer to the question asked in the prompt; your guiding argument. In your thesis, identify the literary
element(s) to be analyzed and the approach or direction of the analysis. What message is the poem sending?
Don’t forget that a theme must apply to life outside the poem!
Sample thesis #1: In his poem “La Figlia chi Piangi,” T.S. Eliot carefully chooses his words to demonstrate the
difference between real life and the way art portrays real life.
Sample thesis #2: In his poem “La Figlia chi Piangi,” T.S. Eliot uses carefully chosen words and dramatic
comparisons to illustrate for his readers the disparity between real life and real life as it is portrayed in art.
Sample thesis #3: In his poem “La Figlia chi Piangi,” T.S. Eliot uses imperative verbs and shifts between first
and third person pronouns to create distance between the events he’s experienced in his own life and himself as
a poet. His evocative comparisons help his reader to see the difficulty of interpreting a personal situation
though art.
Organization
The number of paragraphs you write will be based on the
number of elements you analyze and the number of claims
that you make. At least one paragraph per topic, right?
And every time you want to talk about something new, you
need a new paragraph!
Sample Organization #1
Sample thesis #1: In his poem “La Figlia chi Piangi,” T.S. Eliot
carefully chooses his words to demonstrate the difference between
real life and the way art portrays real life.
1. Eliot chooses words which demonstrate what real life is like.
2. Eliot also chooses words which demonstrate the way art portrays
real life.
Sample Organization #2
Sample thesis #2: In his poem “La Figlia chi Piangi,” T.S. Eliot uses carefully
chosen words and dramatic comparisons to illustrate for his readers the
disparity between real life and real life as it is portrayed in art.
1. Eliot chooses words which demonstrate what real life is like.
2. Eliot chooses words which demonstrate the way art portrays life.
3. Eliot makes comparisons which illustrate the difference between the two.
Sample Organization #3
Sample thesis #3: In his poem “La Figlia chi Piangi,” T.S. Eliot uses imperative verbs and shifts
between first and third person pronouns to create distance between the events he’s experienced
in his own life and himself as a poet. His evocative comparisons help his reader to see the
difficulty of interpreting a personal situation though art.
1. Eliot uses imperative verbs to create distance between his personal experiences and his
poetic efforts.
2. Eliot uses abrupt shifts between first and third person pronouns to create distance
between his personal experiences and his poetic efforts.
3. Eliot uses evocative comparisons to help his reader see the difficulty of interpreting a
personal situation through art.
Conclusion
• Your concluding paragraph should begin by echoing your major thesis without
repeating it word for word.
• It should broaden from the thesis statement to answer the “So what?” question I
may have after reading your essay.
• Explain why I might care about the topic of the poem or why the message it conveys is an
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important one to know.
Evaluate how successful the author is at achieving his/her goal or communicating his/her
message.
Give a personal statement about the topic.
Make predictions
Connect back to your creative introduction
Give your opinion of your poem’s value or significance
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• DON’T get weirdly sappy.
Introduction
Provide the necessary background information in 3 to 6
sentences:
Title of poem
Poet’s name/any relevant biographical facts
Summary of the poem’s subject or topic
Thesis