How do I go about identifying techniques employed in a poem?

Teachers often refer to 'techniques' that poets use to convey meaning. But how is one to first identify them when presented with an unseen poem? It is useful to think about the process in three steps:1) Observe the structure/look of the poem. Is it structured in regular stanzas (verses)? Does it rhyme? Does it resemble a recognisable form (e.g. the Sonnet)? Making some really quick and simple observations about the poem before you start reading can make your first reading more meaningful. 2) After the first reading, think about what the main message or theme of the poem is. Remember, there isn't always one answer, it's completely down to what you feel is the most memorable aspect of the poem. Then, once this is clear in your mind, work out how the author of the poem conveys this image. Is it through imagery which creates a vivid picture? Or through pace (e.g. lots of short words with little punctuation)? Thinking about how the author conveys message through their choice of language will give you a sophisticated analysis of style and genre. 3) After having taken the zoomed-in approach, it can be useful once again to zoom out. What is the overall tone of the poem? How does it make you feel? Once you have answered these questions, again ask yourself why you feel this way, and what the author has done to achieve this effect. Your answer should be grounded in specific observations from the poem. By thinking about the same poem in these two ways, your analysis becomes increasingly multi-layered. Remember, every aspect of the poem is constructed deliberately -- nothing is an accident. In a sense, it is possible to attempt to explain the intention behind every decision the author makes. In an exam, there isn't time to do so, but you can always pick out the most significant or personally memorable.