How to Write a Poetry Commentary
Write in Paragraphs!
Paragraph 1 – Introduction
a) Mention obvious similarities & contrasts (in brief, general terms, e.g: form &
structure, perspective, perhaps also Style, Tone, Theme/Message but don’t go into
this in depth – you need to leave yourselves enough to say in subsequent
paragraphs)
b) Any essential contextual material. (e.g are the poets contemporaries? If they are
100 years apart, you would expect considerable differences, wouldn’t you? Do you
see them here?)
c) Offer an interpretation of the poems, if you can – even as a ‘working thesis’
(Try to answer the question “What are the poems really about?”)
Paragraph 2 – Form/Structure
Stanzas – number of lines?
Lines – length of lines, (ir)regular length
Rhyme – Rhyme-scheme? Irregular rhyme? Half-rhyme?
Rhythm – (ir)regular?
Enjambment &/or Caesura (These can also be treated as devices)
Why is the Form like this?
Paragraph 3 – Style (including Devices)
Imagery – 1. Metaphor 2. Simile 3. Personification 4. Symbol(ism) 5. Conceit (=
Extended Metaphor)
Other Poetic (or Rhetorical) Devices
1. Alliteration 2. Assonance 3. Hyperbole 4. Repetition 5. Irony & Paradox
Semantic Field (e.g colours, natural phenomena, different emotions)
Why are these words/devices used in the poem?
Paragraph 4 – Tone/Mood
For this you need to have a good command of adjectives. How many adjectives do
you know that would be useful to describe what a poem sounds like? (Two poems
could have very similar subject matter & even theme, but sound very different –
which would inevitably affect how the reader would see/interpret the message)
Some useful adjectives to get you going:
accusatory, ambivalent, bitter, celebratory, conciliatory, congratulatory, critical,
despairing, dreamy/dreamlike, eerie, encouraging, grieving, harsh, haunting, hopeful,
humorous, intriguing, joyful, melancholic, mocking, mournful, mysterious, nostalgic,
obseessive, offhand, optimistic, pessimistic, poignant, reminiscent, romantic,
satirical, sorrowful, unemotional, (un)forgiving, vengeful, welcoming.
Alternatively, you can effectively express tone by referring to “a tone of + noun” (e.g.
the poem is imbued with a tone of despair, joy, )
What is the prevalent tone? (& why?)
Paragraph 5 – Theme (& Message)
What is a Theme exactly? How should a Theme be expressed/formulated?
(e.g. Jealousy, Love (& Hate), Obsession, Ambition, Revenge (&/or Forgiveness),
Change, Fate & Destiny, Nature versus Science etc.)
How is this different to a Message?
How do the themes connect with/dovetail into the message?
Paragraph 6 – Conclusion
Has your ‘working thesis’/interpretation worked out? Does it need modifying?
In a sense, you will have to mention the essential similarities & contrasts again, but
try to re-formulate them. Don’t repeat yourself & don’t let the conclusion sound like
a summary, either.
Give your own view of the poems, including your preference. Say why. If you can, try
to make this subjective view sound more objective by using more formal, analytical
language.
{Tip 1: Don’t forget to try to come up with an answer to the Why-question, as well as
to the What-questions. Think ‘what, what, what, why’!
Tip 2: Improve your vocabulary. Build up your formal, analytical vocabulary so that it
will do justice to the demands of this task & this course.}
