How do you analyse a poem?

Writing a good, coherent poem analysis is often seen as very hard, but once you understand and have good knowledge of all the parts that make up a poem, you will see how smooth and enjoyable this process can be. First of all, you need to read the poem carefully; read it slowly, read it out loud, underlining any word or phrase that catches your eye. Then, reflect on the poem as a whole: who is the narrator? What are they talking about? What is the tone of the poem, e.g. meditative, political, nostalgic? After this broad overview, you should dive into the poem, taking the time for an in-depth analysis of language and sound. Start by taking note of rhymes and meters - is there a pattern in the rhymes? How many syllables are in each line? Is this a sonnet, ballad or free-verse composition? Continue by focusing on specific phrases and consider the author's choice of lexicon; find all the similes, metaphors, alliterations, hyperboles you can spot and ask yourself what the effect of those features is. After you've done this close reading, you will see the wider point of the poem and are ready to start defining your argument and analysis.