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Annotating Poetry. An attempt to dissect poetry without sapping it of its complexity and beauty. Steps. Read the poem (you’ve got to start somewhere). Examine the title. What key images/ideas/symbols are present in the title? Annotate confusing words/phrases. Reread the poem.
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Annotating Poetry An attempt to dissect poetry without sapping it of its complexity and beauty.
Steps • Read the poem (you’ve got to start somewhere). • Examine the title. What key images/ideas/symbols are present in the title? • Annotate confusing words/phrases. • Reread the poem. • Look for patterns. What are some consistent images in the poem? Do these images connect to each other? Do these images contain any symbolic significance? • Identify any literary devices that you notice (alliteration, onomatopoeia, symbols, metaphors, enjambment, allusions, etc.)
Steps (cont’d) • Examine the verbs/action words used in the poem. Are there commonalities between these words? Is there consistent action in this poem? • Is the form of the work significant? Observe the number and length of the stanzas, rhyme scheme, etc. • Pay attention on line breaks. Do the lines begin/end with an interesting use of diction? How do the line breaks affect the reader’s interpretation of the line? • Look for the crucial moment/turn in the poem. • This turn might be presented through a change of tone/voice, structure, focus, etc. • Of course, the last lines deserve special attention. How do these lines relate to the rest of the poem? Has the meaning of the poem been altered in any way?