How can I analyze this poem - I don't get it.

When analyzing poems, it's usually most frutiful to start with the basics and then move up from there. First of all, think: what message does the poet want to send? Is s/he being positive or negative? Is s/he happy or sad? Why is this the case and how do you know?

This is basic stuff, but it gets the student beyond the "I don't get it" mindset. From this point, it becomes much easier for him to work in ideas about structure and language. It also immediately encourages him to link his points back to the text, which is essential to achieve any passing grade. 

CC
Answered by Christian C. English Literature tutor

3855 Views

See similar English Literature GCSE tutors

Related English Literature GCSE answers

All answers ▸

What is the best way to approach studying a novel?


In the novel 'Ready Player One', how is Wade Watts presented as a hero?


‘In the battle of the sexes, there are no outright winners.’ Consider some of the ways in which this remark might be applied to Chaucer’s presentation of gender in The Merchant’s Prologue and Tale.


How could I include the metaphor of Atticus as a moral compass in my essay on To Kill a Mockingbird?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning