Probe: Reading Poetry

This probe is meant to help you elicit and articulate your first response when reading poetry. When reading poetry, you should complete at least three readings of a poem. With each separate reading, there are different tasks you are working through: (1) developing an understanding of the poem, (2) identifying the form and structural features of the poem, and (3) reflecting on the larger themes the poem may be exploring.

Reading #1: Develop an Understanding of the Poem

As you're reading, think about the questions below. Also, You may need to do a few readings of the poem before you feel like you have an understanding. That's okay. 

• What's happening in the poem? 
• What's it generally about?
• Who or what is the poem about? 
• Who is talking in the poem?

Reading #2: Identify the Form and Structural Features of the Poem
There's a lot that you can think about when analyzing poetry, below are a few of the big ones:

- Imagery
- Figurative Language
- Word Choice (Diction)
- Mood/Tone
- Rhyme Scheme
- Structure: Enjambment/Layout

Reading#3: Reflect on the Larger Themes

Once you understand and analyze the poem, you put all of it together in order to consider what themes, or big idea, the poet might be working to develop.

• What themes might the author be developing?
• How does it connect to the larger theme of the class?
• Do you see any connections to Bigger, Common Themes?