How can I discuss the structure of a poem?

Structure says a lot about the poets intentions of the poem, and how they wished the poem to be read. 

Short, sharp lines, with long continuous stanzas suggest a pace to the poem. Whereas longer lines, with lots of commas or full stop, create a stop and start sense to the poem. Once you have figured out how the poem should be read, see how this pace relates to the words in the poem. Does the pace compliment or juxtapose the poem? Is the structure of the poem an art form. Is the poem balanced? Are the lines and stanzas all of the same length? Or are some deliberately shorter than others. How many lines are there in the poem? If twelve, could it relate to a clock of some kind? Or does the number of lines hold significant to a number or time mentioned in the text? 

 

JW
Answered by Jenna W. English Literature tutor

19762 Views

See similar English Literature GCSE tutors

Related English Literature GCSE answers

All answers ▸

How does The Grapes of Wrath compare with The Great Gatsby in the presentation of America in the 20th century?


How do I effectively analyse a poem?


How do I answer the unseen poetry section of my exam?


How does Christina Rossetti use language in "Goblin Market" to promote the theme of sensation?


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