“BREAKING IT DOWN” Thayer’s Approach to Analyzing a Poem

The First Read Your first time through you should: Your first time through you should: Read, Enjoy and Absorb what you can Read, Enjoy and Absorb what you can Make preliminary guesses about what it means, but don’t form any permanent ideas. Make preliminary guesses about what it means, but don’t form any permanent ideas.

The Second Read “Structure and Sound” “Structure and Sound” Look for: Look for: Rhyme Rhyme Alliteration Alliteration Assonance Assonance Consonance Consonance Onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia Repetition of words or phrases Repetition of words or phrases

The Third Read “Figurative Language” “Figurative Language” Then you will look for any: Then you will look for any: Metaphors Metaphors Similes Similes Hyperboles Hyperboles Imagery Imagery Personification Personification Diction Diction

The Fourth Read “Meaning” “Meaning” NOW you will start to look for what you think the poem means. NOW you will start to look for what you think the poem means. Don’t be afraid to completely abandon your original idea about what you thought it meant. Don’t be afraid to completely abandon your original idea about what you thought it meant.

The Fifth Read “Anything You Missed” “Anything You Missed” Reading the poem several times will help you find elements you missed during the previous read. Reading the poem several times will help you find elements you missed during the previous read. Also, look for any Allusions Also, look for any Allusions Don’t forget to address the poem’s Tone and Purpose Don’t forget to address the poem’s Tone and Purpose

REMEMBER: Your analysis is graded on two parts Your analysis is graded on two parts 1) conventions (steps 2 & 3) 1) conventions (steps 2 & 3) or “HOW the poem means” 2) Meaning (steps 1, 4 & 5) 2) Meaning (steps 1, 4 & 5) or “WHAT” the poem means”

Lastly… Contrary to what some people believe… Contrary to what some people believe… THERE IS NOT ONE “RIGHT” ANSWER THERE IS NOT ONE “RIGHT” ANSWER The beauty of poetry is that ANY INTERPRETATION IS POSSIBLE if you can explain it with EVERY LINE of the poem.

Though your interpretation may not match what the poet intended, it is not any less right or valid. Each person may get something different from a poem, and that is ok. So don’t be afraid to take a chance. You have nothing to lose.