1. Poetry Analysis
An example

2. Our poem
The Night Before Mourning
For this activity, we will read “The Night Before Mourning” by Matt Rappolt

3. Step One: Title
The Night Before Mourning
When we first look at the title, what do we think it might mean? (beginning of TPCASTT)
What do you notice about “mourning?”

4. Step 2: Your words Read the poem 2-3 times.
The Night Before Mourning
Read the poem 2-3 times.
Write a summary of the poem. What does it mean to you?
What words or phrases are important? Write them down.

5. Step 3: Finding Meaning Answer the questions on the sheet
The Night Before Mourning
Answer the questions on the sheet
Most poems tell us about a poet’s understanding of an experience so the beginning will be different then the end.
The change may be in feelings, language (slang to formal), or connotation (positive to negative). Explain how these shifts convey the poem’s message.

6. Step 4: Poetic devices
The Night Before Mourning
Answer the questions on the sheet: where do you see metaphor, personification, alliteration, imagery? (they are all there)
What about tone, point of view?

7. Step 5: Identifying Theme
The Night Before Mourning
What is the central idea of the poem? (this is the tricky part)

8. Step 6: Look at the title again
The Night Before Mourning
Does it have a different meaning than when we looked at it before?

9. Step 7: Begin your analysis
Remember that poem titles always go between quotation marks
“The Night Before Mourning”
Remember that when you refer to the author you write their full name in the introduction and then going forward, their last name
Eg: In “The Night Before Mourning,” Matt Rappolt writes… Rappolt conveys…

10. Step 8: Historical and cultural context
It is important to always include background to your author so that your audience can understand where the author is coming from.
In the case of Matt Rappolt, his bio is here ->
As for your own analysis, you will write about YOURSELVES
Matt Rappolt (1945- ) served as the U.S Poet Laureate from 2008 to He is the author of eight poetry collections, including The Best of it: New and Selected Poems (Grove Press, 2010), which won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.

11. Questions??