Introducing Poetry

Poems may seem simple or difficult upon first reading. Unpacking the meaning of poem takes more than one reading and a careful focus on each part of the poem.

First, what is poetry? Poetry, if it does not follow a specific formula, can be difficult to define.

Most contemporary poetry is free verse: poetry without "regular meter, rhyme, or stanzaic forms" (http://www.yourdictionary.com/free-verse) . Most of the poems we will study are free verse poems. Modern free verse poems, like all types of poetry, rely on the following characteristics:

• Word usage is concise or economical;
• Each word may have several different associations, meanings, or allude to something outside the poem's context;
  
• While rhyme and rhythm may not follow specific rules, sound is still an important part;
• Poetry can even have a special arrangement on the page that supports its theme.

Whether it is a ballad or narrative poem, a "snapshot" moment, or reflection on a subject or idea, to better understand poetry you need to follow a multi-step reading process.

Step 1
Read the poem once, preferably aloud.
Step 2
Read the poem a second time ( or more), annotating the poem and taking notes on the following seven areas:

1. Title--What information does it tell you? How is it significant to the subject and/or theme?
2. Speaker--Is it the author or a character in a narrative?
3. Setting--Is there a discernible physical setting? More than one place? What time period does the poem's narrative take place? Are there shifts in time?
4. Situation--What is it? What is going on in the poem?
   
5. Characters & Audience--are there other characters in the poem? Does the poet address them? If so, who is the audience?
6. Are there significant universal or contextual symbols? Other poetic devices?
7. Theme (usually found developed throughout the poem or near/at the end)--Does the title have new meaning at the end, considering the theme?

Poetry vocabulary

When discussing literature, you should use the language and terms that best suit analysis. We will be building a master list of literary terms. Below is a list of our first relevant terms discussed in class:

• literal versus figurative language
• metaphor
• simile
• ballad/narrative
• refrain
• stanza
• persona
• allusion
• imagery--sight and sound

For class preparation, use these terms and the multi-step process of analyzing poetry! Remember reading and understanding poetry takes patience! Poetry, however, can help us see ourselves and the world in new ways!