POETRY ANALYSIS

A Guide to the Deconstruction of a Poetic Text

Stage of Analysis Observations and Notes

To Begin
1. Read it aloud, read it twice, listen
to it. Note down your initial
impressions of the poem or poetic
text. Did I like it? Why/why not?
This is an emotional response and
gives an early indication of the
possible mood intended by the
author.

Literal Meaning and Theme

2. Note Down: Words you do not
know, words you are unsure of, any
words that sound important to you

Find definitions if you need to. Once

you understand the literal
meanings, you can try to determine
the theme of the text. Your sense of
theme will develop as you move
through the rest of the stages of
analysis but jotting down initial
ideas about theme is a good idea.

Title
3. Look at the title of the poem. What
information does it give you? What
expectations does it create?
Tone
4. Who is speaking? Is the poet trying
to make a point, win an argument,
move someone to action? Are they
expressing something without
requiring an answer? How does the
author feel about the subject of the
poem?

Structure
5. How is the poem organised? How is
it divided up? Are there individual
stanzas? What does each section
discuss?

Sound and Rhythm

6. Does the poem use special effects
to get your attention? i.e.
alliteration, assonance,
onomatopoeia

Language and Imagery

7. What literary techniques are being
used? How do they communicate
message? How are metaphor,
simile, paradox and other
techniques used by the author?
What impact do these have on how
the message is being received by
audience?

Expanding on your notes:

Looking at your preliminary notes elaborate on what the theme of
the poetic text is and how this theme or idea is being
communicated to you as a reader.

Expand on what you wrote down in the table.

Detail how the author has used various techniques.

What effect do they have?

Texts for Analysis

Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash and June Carter)

Love is a burnin' thing,
And it makes a fiery ring
Bound by wild desire
I fell into a ring of fire.

I fell into a burnin' ring of fire

I went down, down, down
As the flames went higher,
And it burns, burns, burns,
The ring of fire, the ring of fire.

I fell into a burnin' ring on fire

I went down, down, down
As the flames went higher,
And it burns, burns, burns,
The ring of fire, the ring of fire.

The taste of love is sweet

When hearts like ours meet.
I fell for you like a child
Oh, but the fire went wild.

I fell into a burnin' ring of fire

I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns,
The ring of fire, the ring of fire.

I fell into a burnin' ring of fire

I went down, down, down,
As the flames went higher,
And it burns, burns, burns,
The ring of fire, the ring of fire.
 And it burns, burns, burns,
The ring of fire, the ring of fire.
The ring of fire, the ring of fire
The ring of fire

A Red, Red Rose (Robert Burns)

O my Luve is like a red, red rose
Thats newly sprung in June;
O my Luve is like the melody
Thats sweetly played in tune.

So fair art thou, my bonnie lass,

So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a the seas gang dry.

Till a the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi the sun;
I will love thee still, my dear,
While the sands o life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only luve!

And fare thee weel awhile!
And I will come again, my luve,
Though it were ten thousand mile.