How to Write a Poetry Analysis Paper
Step 1
Start by reading the poem silently to you, then read it out loud. Then read it once more silently. You do not have to memorize a poem to write convincingly on it, but you should know it fairly thoroughly.
Step 2
Decide generally what you think the poem is about. If you are absolutely mystified, consider writing a paraphrase, which is a line-by-line "translation" of the poem into plain language. Once you've made a general decision about the poem's meaning, write it down so that you can refer to it as you look at the details of the poem.
Step 3
Pay special attention to unusual words. It is often helpful to ask yourself what the most important word in a line, couplet, or stanza is. You can also look for words with unusual connotations. Make a note of these, especially if the word suggests something that you didn't expect to see.
Step 4
Keep a list of poetic terms handy. If your instructor has emphasized certain terms above others, such as metaphor and imagery, put those at the top of the list. Otherwise, look at the link under Resources below for some of the most common poetic terms.
Step 5
Start at the beginning of the poem, and see if you can identify examples of any poetic terms. In the margins, simply make a note of what kinds of poetic terms you find. Don't worry about explaining them quite yet.
Step 6
Identify the different poetic terms you want to emphasize. Reading the poem again, put a mark by those lines which most directly speak about the meaning of the poem you wrote down in Step 2. These lines will probably be most useful in supporting your thesis. Place a different mark by the lines that remain confusing or mysterious. Return to these last.
Step 7
Start drafting your paper by writing down your thesis from Step 2, and try to support your interpretation of the poem by explaining the lines you marked in Step 5. Be sure to mention not only what the lines mean, but also how the specific language helps make that meaning; refer to Steps 3 and 4 for help with this.
Step 8
Return to the lines that confused you. Decide how you can make them fit what you think the poem means. Be creative with this part, and don't be afraid of coming up with an outlandish idea. If you think there is no way to make these lines fit the poem, consider changing the meaning your wrote down in Step 2 to incorporate them.
Step 9
Reread the poem once more and see if you find any details that you can use to support your thesis. Incorporate them into your paper and revise as needed.
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