How to read poetry

Poetry can be a challenge to read. Poems can be interpreted several different ways. Also, poets often include a basic meaning called a “literal meaning,” as well as a secondary or hidden meaning. Reading poetry will be easier if you use the following guidelines.

• Research the author.
• Read a poem aloud twice.
• Read a poem aloud a third time for the main idea.
• Highlight important details.
• Highlight difficult or new words or phrases.
• Determine the point of view (narrator).
• Determine the intended audience.
• Find the rhyme scheme.
• Find and name the rhythm.
• Find figures of speech or literary devices.
• Evaluate the over all effectiveness of the poem.