How to analyze a poem
Subject:
POETRY EXPLICATIONS: A poetry explication is a relatively short analysis which describes the possible meanings and relationships of the words, images, and other small units that make up a poem. Writing an explication is an effective way for a reader to connect a poem's plot and conflicts with its structural features. This handout reviews some of the important techniques of approaching and writing a poetry explication, and includes parts of two sample explications. Preparing To Write The Explication Read the poem silently, then read it aloud (if not in a testing situation). Repeat as necessary.
