Strategies for Reading & Understanding Poetry

1. Read Poem Aloud

You hear the sounds of a poem by reading it aloud.  As you read, remember that the end of a line is not necessarily the end of a thought.  Read to the end punctuation to understand the complete thought.  Listen to the rhyme, rhythm, and sounds of the words as you read.

2. Visualize the images

Picture the images that the poem suggests.  Think about any comparisons the poet makes.

 3. Figure out who the speaker is

Use clues in the poem to decide if the speaker is male or female, young or old, and so on.  The speaker’s identity will influence how you feel about his or her message.

4. Look carefully at individual words and phrases

Poets try to choose words that convey an exact meaning, feeling, and sound.  As you read, try to figure out what each word adds to the poem.  Think about why the poet chose those words.

5. Think about the poems message or theme

Ask yourself what idea all the elements of the poem combine to suggest.  Paraphrase, or put into your own words, the idea or feeling or picture the poem gives you.