Reading and analyzing poetry can be daunting, especially because poems come in such a wide variety of forms. Different types of poetry can contain complicated or obtuse imagery, obscure allusions, and a mix of literary devices. As the name suggests, SparkNotes presents readers with an easy-to-digest summary of a poem, with helpful notes and analysis. Knowing the basics of a poem before reading it is pivotal to better understanding it. If you want to learn more about reading and interpreting poetry, this guide will teach you how to read poetry like a professor with SparkNotes.
Define the Elements of Poetry
When reading poetry, it is important to understand the basic elements of poetry and their effects on the poem. Poems typically consist of figures of speech, imagery, structure and symbolism. Figures of speech allow writers to craft their poems in creative ways with comparison, exaggeration and other devices. Imagery is the poet’s attempt to create vivid and emotional visuals using metaphors, similes and other figurative language. Structure refers to the parts and layout of the poem, such as its form and metre, whereas symbolism is the poet’s use of a figure, object or colour to convey a deeper meaning. These elements give clues to how the reader should interpret a poem or even see the poem as a puzzle.
Analyse the Poem
In the professor’s view, a poem can be broken down into its constituent parts to gain a better understanding of the poem. At this point, the reader should focus on literary devices such as alliteration, assonance, irony and other elements. All of these elements create a certain sound and effect, which has a direct bearing on the meaning of the poem. Additionally, the reader can also pay attention to the choice of words, punctuation and other poetic conventions.
Look for the Theme
The professor’s aim is to try and uncover the poem’s underlying theme. The poem may have an obvious theme but it’s important to look at it carefully in order to see all its depths. Pay attention to the repetition of words, the connections between words, and the poem’s imagery, structure and symbolism. These tools will help the reader identify how the poem relates to the grand themes of life, love and nature.
Understand the Poet’s Intent
When reading a poem, the professor aims to gain further insight by understanding the poet’s intent. Ask yourself what emotion or message was the poet trying to evoke? Was the poet trying to communicate something personal to them or to the readers? That being said, the professor does not necessarily try to assign a specific meaning to the poem. Instead, he or she may focus on finding a personal connection to the poem.
Look for Literary References in Other Poems
The professor may take the time to analyze previous poems the author had written in order to understand the references and themes present in the current poem. This allows for a more comprehensive understanding of a poem by looking for the shared themes and topics the poem deals with. Additionally, this approach can help to identify how the author’s style has evolved over time.
Make Connections with Real Life
The professor may attempt to draw parallels between the poem and real-life events or experiences. By doing so, they may gain insight into the poem’s deeper meaning. Connecting the poem to current events or people can help to give its interpretation greater depth. It also allows the reader to create a new perspective on the poem.
Use SparkNotes for Help
SparkNotes are an invaluable aid for understanding a poem quickly. Many SparkNotes offer a comprehensive overview of the poem, the poet’s life and the themes the poem explores. SparkNotes can help the reader understand the structure of the poem and the nuances of its language. It’s important to use SparkNotes alongside independent analysis to gain the best insights into a poem.
Pay Attention to Rhymes and Meter
One of the most important elements in prosody, or the study of poetic metre and form, is the poem’s rhyme and metre. It’s important to pay attention to how the poem flows and the pattern of its repetitions in order to gain a deeper understanding of the poem. Rhymes and metre can provide structure and a sense of unity to a poem.
Make Note of Some Techniques
The professor will often be aware of certain techniques for analysing a poem. These techniques can include close reading, reversal analysis and looking for enjambment. Close reading means focussing on the individual words and phrases of the poem in order to gain a better understanding of its meaning. Reversal analysis is a technique used to find new meaning and interpretation by reading the poem backwards. Finally, looking for enjambment means paying attention and analysing the breaking of lines and stanzas, which can convey an extra layer of meaning.
Check Out the Notes and Annotations
The professor may also look to the SparkNotes and other scholarly articles to help them unpack the poem. These notes offer invaluable commentary, which sheds light on the poem’s historical and cultural context. The context can add an extra layer to the poem’s meaning, which may be lost to the casual reader.
Look for Allusions, Homages and Intertextuality
The professor may search for any references the author has made to other works or people. Allusions, homages and other stylistic devices that reference the works of other authors can give the reader extra insight into the poem’s meaning. Similarly, intertextuality, or the weaving of different texts into one, can allow the reader to gain a multifaceted view of the poem.
Explore Different Perspectives
Exploring different perspectives of a poem can open up a whole new world of understanding. Consider how the poem might look or feel if it were seen through the eyes of someone else, such as a character or historical figure. Discerning multiple interpretations can give the reader a more comprehensive view of the poem.
Summarise or Rewrite the Poem
The professor may decide to summarise or rewrite the poem depending on its complexity. Rewriting or summarising the poem allows the reader to gain a better grasp on the poem. It can also help to surface any deeper meanings the poem may contain. This approach can also allow the reader to form an opinion on the poem.
