exploding a Poem “=p \ d Place a piece of paper next to the poem for @ your responses. If possible, read the poem aloud. On your own and without discussion, jot down ideas that come to ely after the first reading. Don't worry about meaning; ‘concentrate on anything that the poem may remind you of, any feolings, however unexpected, it suggests; any kind of atmosphere. Read the poem again - aloud if possible. Note down any ideas or questions that occur to you when you ask the following questions: 4. What is the poem about? Try and summarise the main subject of the poem, in one or wo sentences. . Who is speaking in the poem? To whom? 'sit the poot's voice speaking in the poem orisit the voice of somebody else, real or imagined? 's the poet speaking out to you? quietly reflecting to himseltherselF? addressing the world in genera..? If there is another voice in the poems it doing the same? 3. How does the poem convey its message? ‘a, How does the poom look on the page? Verses What do you notice about the poem's appearance? ‘Whats ts shape? regular verses? a short single block? sprawing across the page? short ines? long ines? ‘The miter decided to present the poem in his way: are there any obvious reasons why? b, How does the poem sound? ‘magery ‘What are the main mages the wnter uses? Which are particularly striking? Why? Does the writer use any comparisons? Similes? Metaphors? Personifcation? Diction ‘Look carefully atthe writer's choice of words - why has he or she chosen those particular words? Do they create a particular effector tone? Copyright © 1999 wow tcachiteo.kAlteration and Assonance ‘Ave there repeated consonant or vowel sounds within a fine? How do they affect the sound of the poem? Tense ‘What tense does the witer use - past, present or future? Is there a combination ofall three? Rhythm and Rhyme How does the poem seem to move? Do the sound and rhythm of the lines seem bight and bouncy, or do he lines move slowly with heavily rounded sounds and a slow tytn? ‘Ae the sounds and rhythms different a diferent places in the poem? Do any of he ines rhyme? What effect do the miymes have? Punctuation Does the punctuation, or lack of i help you to see how the poem should be read”? Do the lines run into each other without a break, or are the ends sharply marked by punctuation? Mood What s the mood of the poem? Does it feel hapoy, sad, sentimental defiant, thoughtful triumohant, unemotional? 4, Why do you think the poet has written the poem? How does the poet feel about you the reader? Are you being asked to share someting persoral? ‘Ace you being pleaded wih, mocked o: laughed at, preached at? 's the poetry trying o teach you something, persuade you, move you, entertain you? Hom does the poet feel about the subject ofthe poem? ‘Ase you being offered a message ora view of things the wile wants you to share or understand? Iso, what might ths be? Does the title of the poem help you to understand the poet's purpose? 5. What is your personal response to the poem? How did you react tothe poom? Did itmove you? make you think about an issue in more dept? Did it make you fool? Do you think the poemis effective? Why? Copyright © 1999 wor teahit co.uk