What Is Poetry Analysis?
Poetry analysis is examining the independent elements of a poem to understand the literary
work in its entirety. Analyzing poems line by line allows you to break poems down in order to
study their structure, form, language, metrical pattern, and theme. The purpose of literary
analysis is to interpret the meaning of a poem and appreciate it on a deeper level.
5 Things to Consider When Analyzing Poetry
Poetry involves different elements like language, rhythm, and structure. Together, they tell a
story and create a complexity that is unique to poetic verse. When studying poems in-depth,
look at these individual elements:
1. Theme: Poetry often conveys a message through figurative language . The central idea
and the subject matter can reveal the underlying theme of a poem.
2. Language: From word choice to imagery, language creates the mood and tone of a
poem. The way language is arranged also impacts the rhythm of a poem.
3. Sound and rhythm: The syllabic patterns and stresses create the metrical pattern of a
poem.
4. Structure: The framework of a poem’s structure affects how it is meant to be read. A
poet sculpts their story around stanzas, line breaks, rhyme patterns, punctuation, and
pauses.
5. Context: The who, what, where, when, and why of a poem can help explain its
purpose. Look at these elements to discover the context of a poem .
How to Analyze a Poem in 10 Steps
Reading poetry is a rewarding experience in and of itself. But to really see how all of the
elements of a poem work together, you’ll want to study the qualities and characteristics of
each. Follow this step-by-step guide to analyze a poem:
1. Read the poem. The first time you approach a poem, read it to yourself. Go through it
slowly, appreciating the nuances and details you might miss when reading it quickly.
Examine the title of the poem and how it relates to the meaning of the piece.
2. Read the poem again, this time aloud. Given its rhythmic patterns, poetry is
designed to be read aloud. As you read a poem aloud, listen to how the words and
syllables shape the rhythm. It can also help to hear someone else read the poem. Look
online and find a recording of the poem, if you can. Listen to how the words flow from
line to line, where the breaks are, and where the stress is placed.
3. Map out the rhyme scheme. You’ll notice right away if a poem has a rhyme
scheme or is written in free verse (i.e. without a rhyme scheme or regular meter). Map
out the rhyming pattern by assigning each line a letter, giving lines that rhyme the
same letter. See if there is a distinct pattern and a formal rhyme scheme, like terza rima
(three-line stanzas with interconnected scheme of ABA BCB, etc.)
4. Scan the poem. Scansion is how you analyze the meter of poetry based on the pattern
of stressed and unstressed syllables in each line. Mark each foot—the basic
measurement of a poetic line consisting of one stressed syllable paired with at least
one unstressed syllable. Next, mark the pattern of stresses throughout the line. Identify
the meter based on this information. For example, a poem written in iambic
pentameter will have five feet with a syllabic pattern of da DUM, da DUM, da DUM,
da DUM, da DUM.
5. Break down the structure. Take a step back and look at the poem on the page. Notice
the white space around the words. Poetry is meant to make a visual statement as well
as an emotional one. Look at the details of this structure—like how many lines are in
each stanza. Notice where the line breaks are. Does the end of every line coincide with
the end of the thought? If not, the poet may be using enjambment, where one line
continues into the next.
6. Determine the form of the poem. In your poem analysis, note what type of poem
you’re reading based on the elements you’ve examined. For example, if a poem has
three quatrains (four-line stanzas) followed by a couplet, the poem is a sonnet. Other
formal types of poetry include sestina, haiku, and limerick .
7. Study the language in the poem. Poets make deliberate word choices to craft their
poems. Examine each word and its significance in the line and the poem. How does it
contribute to the story? If there are words you don’t know, look them up. See how the
poet plays with language through the use of metaphors, similes, and figurative
language. Note any literary devices used , like alliteration and assonance, that help
sculpt the poem’s language.
8. Study the content of the poem. As you wade through the language of the poem, look
at the content and message of the piece to uncover the theme. Learn when it was
written to learn the historical context of the poem. Find out where it was written, and
what language the poet used. If you’re reading a translation, see if there are other
variations that can show how different translators interpreted the original work.
9. Determine who the narrator is. Try to identify the speaker of the poem. Is it told
through first-person point of view, second-person, or third-person? What tone does the
narrator convey? The speaker’s identity influences the telling of the poem based on
their personal perspective.
10. Paraphrase the poem line by line. Finally, go through the poem again. Beginning
with the first line, paraphrase each line. In other words, interpret the meaning, writing
down your summary as you go. Once you’ve gone through the entire piece, read your
words to grasp the meaning of the poem.
Study the poem:
Prospice
BY RO BE RT BR OWN IN G
Fear death?—to feel the fog in my throat,
The mist in my face,
When the snows begin, and the blasts denote
I am nearing the place,
The power of the night, the press of the storm,
The post of the foe;
Where he stands, the Arch Fear in a visible form,
Yet the strong man must go:
For the journey is done and the summit attained,
And the barriers fall,
Though a battle's to fight ere the guerdon be gained,
The reward of it all.
I was ever a fighter, so—one fight more,
The best and the last!
I would hate that death bandaged my eyes and forbore,
And bade me creep past.
No! let me taste the whole of it, fare like my peers
The heroes of old,
Bear the brunt, in a minute pay glad life's arrears
Of pain, darkness and cold.
For sudden the worst turns the best to the brave,
The black minute's at end,
And the elements' rage, the fiend-voices that rave,
Shall dwindle, shall blend,
Shall change, shall become first a peace out of pain,
Then a light, then thy breast,
O thou soul of my soul! I shall clasp thee again,
And with God be the rest!
