Responding to a Poem How you respond to a poem on an emotional (what you feel) level and on an intellectual (what you think) level is based on your past; on all your experiences, thoughts, and beliefs. The meaning of a poem comes from who you are as much as from the written text. The following questions will help you probe deeper into a poem. What feelings arise in you as you read Why do you think the writer decided to this poem? use poetry rather than prose? What memories or past experiences How many examples of figurative come to you? language can you find in your poem? Imagery is so powerful; what images Can you find similes, metaphors, are most striking? Which of your personification, apostrophe, etc? senses are awakened? Can you find sound devices such as Are you wondering about something? alliteration, onomatopoeia, assonance, What parts puzzle you? What etc.? Can you figure out the rhyme questions can you ask? Is there scheme? Can you find other literary something in the poem that you can devices? research (unknown words, events, etc.) What’s the opinion of the poet about Titles offer clues to meaning, what people or life? Do you agree or does your title tell you? disagree with the viewpoint? Explain. Can you tell who or what the speaker Did you like the poem? Hate it? What is in the poem? How can you tell? Why did you like most? Least? do you think the poet chose this voice? Is there a piece of music you would use to accompany the reading of this poem? What would you choose? Why? Go ahead, take apart a poem
Responding to a Poem How you respond to a poem on an emotional (what you feel) level and on an intellectual (what you think) level is based on your past; on all your experiences, thoughts, and beliefs. The meaning of a poem comes from who you are as much as from the written text. The following questions will help you probe deeper into a poem. What feelings arise in you as you read this poem? What memories or past experiences come to you? Imagery is so powerful; what images are most striking? Which of your senses are awakened? Are you wondering about something? What parts puzzle you? What questions can you ask? Is there something in the poem that you can research (unknown words, events, etc.) Titles offer clues to meaning, what does your title tell you? Can you tell who or what the speaker is in the poem? How can you tell? Why do you think the poet chose this voice? Why do you think the writer decided to use poetry rather than prose? How many examples of figurative language can you find in your poem? Can you find similes, metaphors, personification, apostrophe, etc? Can you find sound devices such as alliteration, onomatopoeia, assonance, etc.? Can you figure out the rhyme scheme? Can you find other literary devices? What’s the opinion of the poet about people or life? Do you agree or disagree with the viewpoint? Explain. Did you like the poem? Hate it? What did you like most? Least? Is there a piece of music you would use to accompany the reading of this poem? What would you choose? Why? Go ahead, take apart a poem