Some Questions to Ask When Reading a Poem

1. What is the subject of the poem?
2. What is the story in the poem, if it has a story? How does it change from beginning to end.
3. What kinds of metaphors or similes (or other comparisons or figures of speech) does the poem have?
4. What is the rhyme scheme, if there is rhyme?
5. Is there a rhythm to the poem? What type of rhythm is it?
6. What is the writer's diction? What words does the author choose? Give some examples.
7. How does the writer play with sound?
8. What is the point of view? Is it the author speaking, or someone else? Is it first, second, or third person, or a combination?
9. What is the form of the poem? How many stanzas does it have? Is it a sonnet, a villanelle, a ballad, or some other type of poem? Describe its form.
10. What is the poem about besides the obvious subject?

As I have said in class, poets are like tight-rope walkers. They often are doing many things at once in a poem, just as a tight-rope walker might juggle, ride a unicycle, wear a blindfold, balance on a ball, or do flips while walking on a tight-rope strung between high buildings. Sometimes, though, a poet is just balancing on a straight line drawn on the pavement.