How can I effectively interpret a poem?

A poem is sound and sense; more than its literal meaning, it depends on sounds, images, rhythms, and figures of speech to convey its meaning/message. A poem "works" because it speaks to both our hearts and minds; the poem demands our participation.

Steps in Reading a Poem

1. Read the poem once straight through, with no particular expectations; read open-mindedly. Concentrate on the meaning of the whole without worrying about the specific parts.
2. Read the poem a second time; read for the exact sense of the words; if there are words you do not understand, look them up in a dictionary. Keep in mind that words have levels of meaning: denotative, literal, and connotative, evocative, associative.
3. Read the poem aloud, or hear someone else read it.
4. Try to paraphrase the poem as a whole. By putting the poem into your own words, you will be better able to understand what the poet has to say. Then paraphrase the individual lines and stanzas or verse paragraphs.
5. Identify the theme or central thought of the poem. What is the subject of the poem?
6. Identify who is speaking. This is usually not the poet per se but his/her persona—the "I" or "me" in the poem.
7. Identify who is being addressed. Some poems may address a general audience or a specific audience as identified in the poem.
8. Identify the setting, if applicable, of the poem.
9. Notice the sounds of the words, and patterns like alliteration and rhythm. How do they help you hear the meaning of the poem?
10. Notice the imagery of the poem. How does it appeal to your senses? (sight, hearing, taste, touch, feel, smell)
11. What kinds of figures of speech are used (simile, metaphor, etc.)?
12. Respond to the poem: does your own experience confirm or disagree with the poet's position and why? How does your own experience relate to the experience of the poem?

Edited by Maureen Lindell, a teacher in New York for over 11 years. Interested in all aspects of education, Maureen has started a new venture, Bedford Prep, which will provide educational enrichment for kids of all ages.