Annotating Poetry An attempt to dissect poetry without sapping it of its complexity and beauty.

Steps Read the poem (you’ve got to start somewhere). Examine the title. What key images/ideas/symbols are present in the title? Annotate confusing words/phrases. Reread the poem. Look for patterns. What are some consistent images in the poem? Do these images connect to each other? Do these images contain any symbolic significance? Identify any literary devices that you notice (alliteration, onomatopoeia, symbols, metaphors, enjambment, allusions, etc.)

Steps (cont’d) Examine the verbs/action words used in the poem. Are there commonalities between these words? Is there consistent action in this poem? Is the form of the work significant? Observe the number and length of the stanzas, rhyme scheme, etc. Pay attention on line breaks. Do the lines begin/end with an interesting use of diction? How do the line breaks affect the reader’s interpretation of the line? Look for the crucial moment/turn in the poem. This turn might be presented through a change of tone/voice, structure, focus, etc. Of course, the last lines deserve special attention. How do these lines relate to the rest of the poem? Has the meaning of the poem been altered in any way?