| Six steps to Peel a Poem After you've found a real poem, follow these steps to begin interpreting it. 1. Read the poem through once and record your first impression of it. (ie: I think it's about . . . I was surprised by . . . I like the line . . . this part is confusing . . . etc) 2. Look up any unfamiliar words (yourdictionary.com) and write out the definitions on the poem. 3. Read the poem again. Translate the poem line by line into your own words. 4. Paraphrase the entire poem in one sentence, beginning: "The main point is . . . " 5. Identify any symbolism or figurative language and speculate as to what it represents. (ie: what's the deeper meaning?) 6. Identify a theme (the message/meaning) of the poem. This may relate back to # 4. Completing these steps will make writing your interpretative essay about the poem much easier, but also more thorough. |