What is the difference between language, structure and form in analysis of poetry?

Language: To analyse language we analyse the poet's choice and use of lexis. It's helpful to ask: What connotations does a word carry and why might the poet have chosen to use this specific word? What language features are present in the text (eg. simile, pathetic fallacy, anthropomorphism) and how are these techniques effective in establishing mood, creating subtext and engaging the reader. Form: To analyse form we look at the poem's construction. For this we ask: What type of poem is it? What metre is used and what rhythm does this create? How does it look on the page- are there structural features eg. Caesura, enjambment present and how do these shape the reading of the poem? Structure: To analyse structure we focus on the relationship between parts of the poem. Where form is a clinical dissection of a poem's composition, structure is a more overarching analysis. We ask: How do themes develop from the first stanza to the last? Is there repetition or use of motifs? How does the poem open and close?

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Answered by Rachael B. English Literature tutor

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