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Learning how to talk about poetry and being able to interpret what poems
mean is not the easiest thing in the world to do. When discussing a poem
two areas must be considered: meaning and mechanics.
• Meaning
• Mechanics
1. Look at the title. What significance does the title have in connection
with the meaning of the poem?
2. Read the poem as a whole.
3. Read the poem stanza by stanza (if appropriate.)
4. Paraphrase the poem line by line.
5. Break the lines down word by word if necessary. Substitute unfamiliar
words with ones you use every day.
Helpful Hints!
Simile A figure of speech that compares two unlike things, using the
words like or as.
1
Metaphor A figure of speech that compares two unlike things directly,
without the use of an intervening word.
Definitions
Lyric - Poems with a song-like quality that are usually short. The poet
expresses his personal reaction to things.
Narrative - Poems that tell a story and are usually long. An example
would be an epic or a ballad.