How to Approach a Poem

1. Sum up the story of the poem

2. Identify the messages and themes

3. Find elements of structure that support messages and themes

4. Fins small parts of language that support messages and themes

1. Analyse small parts of language and come up with lots of ideas

2. Analyse small parts of structure and come up with more ideas

3. Look for patterns in your ideas

4. Establish themes and messages from the patterns

5. Sum up the story of the poem