How do I analyse a poem?

When analysing a poem it's important to remember the Fantastic Four: form, structure, subject matter, and language. Form refers to what kind of poem you're reading - for example, it could be a sonnet or a limerick - and this should be the first thing you identify. Once you've identified the form of the poem, you can explain why you think this particular form was chosen, and how it relates to the other aspects of the poem (e.g. how the ballad form might help convey the message of a poem with romantic subject matter). The structural features of the poem also need to be identified, and this includes things like rhyme scheme, verse and line length, and metre. Again, the structure of the poem eventually needs to be linked to the subject matter or theme(s) of the poem.

When you refer to the subject matter of the poem, you are simply explaining what the poem is about. Here, you can also address any themes you might have picked up on (and again, you should explain how the form and structure of the poem help present this theme). When discussing the language in the poem, you will refer to linguistic techniques such as similes, metaphors, alliteration, and specific word choices - essentially, you are identifying how language is used in the poem, and describing the way this language contributes to the poem's meaning. When you analyse a poem, you are explaining what you interpret the poem to be about, and how the language, form, and structure of the poem helps convey this meaning. Therefore, you must remember to always link your points about form or structure with your ideas about the poem's meaning and theme(s).