a comment I made in ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
discuss_writing
May. 12th, 2004 08:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
novapsycheThese are good pointers [for prose]; it's unfortunate that most of these cannot really be used for reading poetry, which is especially demanding.
Poems by nature are difficult to penetrate. All poems should be read more than once, and at least once aloud. When reading critically, it's important to examine each line as an organic whole. Ask yourself: Why did the author decide to end the line where s/he did? What words caught your ear/eye the most? Take a look at how simple or how sophisticated the diction is. Examine word choices. If you know how, it might be helpful to explicate the poem, to get a firm sense of the cadence of the piece. What words receive the most stress (these words almost always are the most important)? Was there a turn that shifted the poem's awareness? If you were the author, are there any words that you would strip? How would you improve on the piece?
Now, go another level. What poetic devices stand out? Did the author take pains to alliterate? Is there some form of hyperbole or, alternatively, understatement? Is there punning (paranomasia) going on? Internal and/or end rhyme? What is the prevalent imagery (visual, audial, tactile)? Did the imagery succeed? What about the voice: does it seem authentic or overblown (and if overblown, was this a style the author was looking for [i.e., going for irony])? What is the mood of the piece? the tone?
Finally, what did you as a reader come away with? Did the piece have a point? What was the overall thrust? Was the point overt or was it revealed through a compilation of poetic device (e.g., tone, word choice)? Did you feel the poem was successful?
It may help to read it one last time.
(Original thread here.)
Poems by nature are difficult to penetrate. All poems should be read more than once, and at least once aloud. When reading critically, it's important to examine each line as an organic whole. Ask yourself: Why did the author decide to end the line where s/he did? What words caught your ear/eye the most? Take a look at how simple or how sophisticated the diction is. Examine word choices. If you know how, it might be helpful to explicate the poem, to get a firm sense of the cadence of the piece. What words receive the most stress (these words almost always are the most important)? Was there a turn that shifted the poem's awareness? If you were the author, are there any words that you would strip? How would you improve on the piece?
Now, go another level. What poetic devices stand out? Did the author take pains to alliterate? Is there some form of hyperbole or, alternatively, understatement? Is there punning (paranomasia) going on? Internal and/or end rhyme? What is the prevalent imagery (visual, audial, tactile)? Did the imagery succeed? What about the voice: does it seem authentic or overblown (and if overblown, was this a style the author was looking for [i.e., going for irony])? What is the mood of the piece? the tone?
Finally, what did you as a reader come away with? Did the piece have a point? What was the overall thrust? Was the point overt or was it revealed through a compilation of poetic device (e.g., tone, word choice)? Did you feel the poem was successful?
It may help to read it one last time.
(Original thread here.)