How do I approach analysing an unseen poem?

Unseen poems can seem a daunting concept but are easy to tackle when you break the poem down into simple steps. First, you want to look at form:Look at the poem on the page before you even read it Ask yourself, does the shape remind you of anything? Is it split into stanzas, or not? Is the poem entirely in verse, or is there some prose? Read the poem through, and then decide on its form. It is useful to have a bank of forms (e.g. sonnet, freezers) memorised to which you can compare the poem, as the form is a deliberate choice. Noticing this can really elevate your analysisNext, you want to move on to structureHow is it organised into lines and stanzas? What punctuation is used? Is the rule of three used? How long are the lines? Try and figure out what these do to the poem and how they affect the way that it is read.Lastly, you want to consider languageWho is the speaker of the poem? How does this change the message?Consider the use of specific words and literary techniques such as alliteration, rhyme, repetition, metaphors, similes etc. and how these change the effect of the poem. You want to notice these, but then analyse them also.