Introduction to Poetry by Billy Collins

I ask them to take a poem

and hold it up to the light
like a color slide
or press an ear against its hive.
I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,
or walk inside the poem's room
and feel the walls for a light switch.
I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore.
But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.
They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.

Before Reading:
-How many stanzas? How many lines? Number the lines.
-What is the title? Based on the title, what do you think the poem will be about?
Analysis
-Who is the speaker? Point of view?
-What is the tone? What are some words or phrases that make you think this is the tone?
-Does the tone change at all?
-Who is the speaker addressing?
-What are some of the sound devices used here? How do they add to the overall effect of the poem?
-What is the rhyming scheme? The end rhyme of the poem?
-What type of figurative language is used in this poem? How does it add to the overall effect of the poem?
-What images does this poem create in your mind? How does this add to the overall effect of the poem?
-What is the overall theme of the poem? How do all the poetry devices used (e.g figurative language,
sound devices, etc.) add to the theme/message of the poem?

Write a reflection
Make a connection with the poem. How can you relate to it? (50 words)
How do you feel about the study of poetry? Should we have fun with it, explore a poem? (75 words)