How do I go about analysing a poem?

The first thing I would do is ask - what makes a poem special, what makes it different from other forms of creative writing? I seek to guide the student towards the importance of each word in the text, contending that it has been chosen carefully and that there is a reason for it, which needs to be unpacked through analysis. I will say that just as important as the choice of words is the overall effect they create - either through the ambience, the atmosphere, the rythm or rhyme, or any other effect potentially identified. There are really no "wrong" answers in Literature, just various levels of depth in engaging with text and the ability to justify your personal understanding of a piece.

I would also discuss the context of the poem with the student: the author and other works he/she has written, the situation in which the poem was created, historical context perhaps, the message it is trying to convey etc.. My teaching style generally revolves around challenging superficial perceptions and digging deep into analysis of a creative text through discussions, helping students build their own arguments, however, I also recognise the importance of addressing technicalities such as identifying various figures of speech and creative writing tactics and writing critical analysis essays backed by solid reference to the text.