What should be included when analysing poetry?

When analysing poetry, it is essential to consider not only the language features present, but also the structural devices employed by a poet. This will make your analysis more comprehensive; often students find it difficult to comment on the structure of a poem. However, this is generally due to an error in categorising a feature as either a linguistic or structural device. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that techniques such as repetition are key structural devices which are more than often confused for language devices.The most common language features you will be looking for include imagery techniques, such as metaphor and simile, which you are likely familiar with. Important structural features such as the metre and rhythm of a poem allow you to analyse the text from a wider lens, which is key in demonstrating that you have a good understanding of the poem as a whole. Naturally, it is much easier to identify language features, and choose to predominantly base your response on them, yet, there must be an equal weighting between your response on language and structural features in order to demonstrate that you have the ability to analyse both.