Research documentation : How should we understand poem

here is some tips to understand when reading the poem

1. Who is the speaker? ( most assume it is the poet, but that is something you should not assume. )

2. Is it possible to determine the speakers age or sex? (This might help determine the person’s frame of mind in the poem.

3. What is the setting of the story? ( This is usually easy to tell and can help achieve more then one might think when trying to determine the full picture)

4. What is the title trying to say? ( Does the title fit in with the poem and is well understood? Or does it seem to be not a part of the poem at all)

5. Is there a theme that is shown significantly within the poem? ( Sometime the theme is easily shown, sometimes it is a little less direct)

6. Are there any words repeated? Why do you think they are being repeated? ( This might help define the speakers feelings or meaning of a certain part of the poem.)

7. Do any of the objects, people, or places seem to have symbolic meaning? ( Not everything is always face value. The true meaning can be found in a symbol hidden in the words.)

8. What is the overall tone of the poem? ( Is this a happy, sad, ect. Poem?)

9. Does any biological information about the author help? ( Sometimes knowing a little about the author can help define that meaning of the poem.)

10. What reactions or feeling of your own does this poem reveal? ( This might have been the goal of the author and ones own feelings can show the meaning of the poem)