Poetry Analysis
Poetry packs meaning into every word. Analyzing it means looking at what the poem says AND how its structure and sound create meaning.
TPCASTT Method
Title (before reading) → Paraphrase → Connotation → Attitude/Tone → Shift → Title (after reading) → Theme
Sound Devices
| Device | Definition |
|---|---|
| Alliteration | Repeated consonant sounds at word starts |
| Assonance | Repeated vowel sounds within words |
| Consonance | Repeated consonant sounds within/at end of words |
| Onomatopoeia | Words that imitate sounds (buzz, crash) |
| Rhyme scheme | Pattern of end rhymes (ABAB, AABB…) |
Meter & Form
Iambic pentameter: 10 syllables per line, unstressed-STRESSED pattern (Shakespeare's default).
Free verse has no regular meter or rhyme. Sonnets = 14 lines.
Figurative Language in Poetry
Metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, imagery — all intensified in poetry. Look for extended metaphors that run through the entire poem.
Identifying Theme
Theme is the universal message, not the topic. Topic = "death." Theme = "death forces us to value what we have."
FAQ
Does every poem rhyme? No. Free verse (no rhyme or meter) is extremely common in modern poetry.
Quick Quiz
Test what you just learned. Choose the best answer for each question.