Techniques

• Steps to analysing an unseen poem

  1. Read the question carefully and highlight the key words

  2. Read the poem twice. Make sure you understand what it is about (use the question to help you)

  3. Analyse: feelings, characters, speaker, your reaction

  4. Ideas what ideas or themes does the poet explore?

  5. Language-are there any specific words or language techniques?

  6. Structure-how is the poem laid out and organised?

  7. Opinion - why do you think the poet wrote it? Is there a message?

  8. Plan your answer so it is clearly structured

  9. Write paragraphs which have a clear point, quotations and analysis of how and why methods convey meaning. In your analysis you must consider the effect on the reader and the poet's intention
• Poems are usually about a person, a place, event, memory or reflection (thinking of feelings about something). They are often observations of very small details.
• What to consider when analysing a poem

  What is it about? Who is speaking? Where are they? What happens and why? When is the poem set at a particular time?
• For the 24 mark question aim for 4-5 paragraphs. For the 8 mark question aim for 2-3 paragraphs.