Poetry Revision

In the exam you will be asked to analyse two poems. The poems will not be too difficult to understand. Here are some tips to help you:
 

• Read the poems at least three times each. Trust your instincts when deciding what they are about.

• Look carefully at the title, it will tell you what the poems are about.

• Try to decide what each poem is about. Remember, you cannot be wrong as long as you can back your argument up with quotes and logic.

• When you have an idea of what a poem is about you need to think about what ideas the poet wants us to think about. Again it is important to remember that you cannot be wrong as long as you have evidence for what you believe. Try to decide what you think the themes are and what the poet wants you to consider.

• Mood or atmosphere. When you have decided what the poems are about you should have an idea of the mood or atmosphere. For example, if a poem is about a woman who works all day and feels tired the mood will be sad, worn out, sombre. Poetry is all about painting a picture in your head and making you feel something emotionally. Mood and atmosphere is all about the emotions of a poem.

• You will need to think about how a poem is written. You will need to mention the amount of stanzas, the rhyme scheme, and any examples of descriptive language such as similes, metaphors, personification and alliteration. You will also need to pick out words that stand out. For example, if a poem is about violence then you will need to find violent words. If it is about love you should pick out words that have something to do with love. Also remember to comment on the title, think about why the poet gave the poem its title.

• Finally you will need to think about your personal response to the poem. Again, you cannot be wrong. You don’t have to like a poem; if you don’t you need to explain why. Your personal response is basically your opinion and your opinion cannot be wrong so don’t be afraid to say what you think.

• The most important thing to remember is that you cannot be wrong as long as you use relevant quotes to back up any argument and then explain exactly what you mean. Poetry is all about what you think and feel when you read it so you can never be wrong. Trust yourself; your first instinct is normally the right one, but double check by rereading each poem.

• Do not be afraid to write on the poems or around them. Annotate the poems as you go along (make notes). This will save you a lot of time when you begin to write your actual answer in your answer book. Read them through at least twice before you even think about writing anything.

• Remember to check what you have written; check that it all makes sense.