Poetry Analysis

To study a poem is to find out how the poet made use of a particular poetry form and the
incorporation of different poetry devices to write about the subject in order to determine the theme
or message. It helps a lot when a poem is read aloud with the intended feelings to truly appreciate
what the poem is trying to express. Knowing the life of the poet can also shed light on the intended
meaning.

Template for poetry analysis: Example of analysis after the template

Poetry Analysis Template

Name of Student: ___________________

Title of Poem:
Author:
Brief description about the author: (2-3 sentences)

Questions Answers
What is the form of the poem?
What/who is the subject of the poem?
What do you think are the words that are key
to understanding the poem?
What does the title suggest the poem is all
about?
What is the mood or emotion that the poem
evokes?
What is the tone of the poem? What
creates the tone?
What are the poetic devices used in the poem? Answer in bullet form and state in which part of the poem is it used.
Give two only if it is used multiple times
What are the layers of meaning in the poem Answer only that which is applicable to the poem
expressed in the use of figurative language,
imagery, rhyme, rhythm, stanza structure,
conventional forms, symbolism, point of view,
etc.

Why do you think the author wrote the poem? Answer only the questions applicable to the poem.
When is the poem happening?
Where is the poem happening?
What is the poet’s attitude?
What is the theme/message of the poem?
What is the relevance of this poem today?
(either to individuals or society)
What characteristics of Contemporary
Literature is embodied in this poem?

What is the relevance/significance of the

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Example

Title of Poem: Harlem

Langston Hughes (1902-1962), born in Joplin, Missouri, is known for his insightful portrayal of the life
of black people in America. He wrote and published poems and other literary texts from the 1920s
to the 1960s. He is one of the great contributors to the Harlem Renaissance Movement.

Questions Answers
What is the form of the poem? The poem is in free verse for there is no discernible pattern in the
number of lines per stanza and the length of lines. It does not
resemble any poem that has specific rules on rhyming, repetition
and subject matter.
What/who is the subject of the poem? The subject of the poem is about dreams.
What do you think are the words that are key Key words are: dreams, deferred,
to understanding the poem?
What does the title suggest the poem is all Harlem is a neighborhood in New York, which during the time that
about? Langston Hughes lived there, had around 70% of its population
consisting of African-American migrants.
The title suggests that whatever the subject of the poem is, it has
something to do with the people of Harlem.
What is the mood or emotion that the poem The poem, in only a few words, managed to evoke a feeling of
evokes? regret for the dreams that were still unrealized. There is a sense
What is the tone of the poem? What of finality that these dreams will not be realized. And the imagery
creates the tone? used imply that this is a burden that is intrusive in the life of the
person/s it refers to.
What are the poetic devices used in the poem? Simile
1. like a raisin in the sun
2. like a sore
3. stink like rotten meat
4. like a syrupy sweet
5. like a heavy load

What are the layers of meaning in the poem The similes used in the poem imply that a deferred dream is difficult
expressed in the use of figurative language, to ignore, gives an uncomfortable feeling to the person, and
imagery, rhyme, rhythm, stanza structure, something that one carries with regret.
conventional forms, symbolism, point of view,
etc. The last line, which used the word "explode" implies that the
presence of unrealized dream within the person (or within a
community) is an ongoing internal struggle which may still result in
it being exposed to the world.
Why do you think the author wrote the poem? Knowing the history of Harlem, specially during Hughes' time,
When is the poem happening? expresses the unrest that the people were experiencing at that time.
Where is the poem happening? Hughes wrote about the experiences of the black people, and
What is the poet’s attitude? maybe, he was expressing the frustration of the African-American
who have a lot of their rights curtailed, who have experienced
discriminations, who have been denied opportunities just because of
their race.
Perhaps Harlem was a place where people went to with hopes of a
better future that went unrealized.
What is the theme/message of the poem? The theme of the poem is about the burden of having a dream that

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What is the relevance of this poem today? could not be realized because of problems within the person or
(either to individuals or society) because of external forces. It also makes the reader reflect about
how this could impact their life.
What characteristics of Contemporary The raw, stark language that Hughes used, devoid of flowery words
Literature is embodied in this poem? express
- a sentiment that us ironic and reflects current political, social and
personal issues
- reflect a personal cynicism, disillusionment and frustration
What is the relevance/significance of the
theme to you?

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