Poem: _______________________________________________________________________________________________

Think about the title? What are the possible meanings?

Title significance?

Context / background to the poem

Poet / Speaker’s concerns

THEME/S:
How/Where the theme is introduced,
developed, concluding thought

Poet’s ideas, message, concerns,

purpose

Include key quotes

TONE

Poet’s attitude(s), feeling(s) toward the

subject of the poem

Changes in tone?
How poet uses words with positive and/or
negative connotations to create tone and
show attitude to topic/issue

POETIC FORM, GENRE & STRUCTURE

Form [The type of poem and its rules
regarding number and length of lines. The
distinctive shape and layout of a text, the
way it is constructed and organised]
Is there a general literary form? Eg;
cinquain, sonnet, free verse, narrative, lyric,
ballad, ode etc. rhyme scheme,
arrangement of stanzas voltas etc.couplets
etc

Nicole Kennedy-Smith : IGCSE & AS LITERATURE

 AURAL IMAGERYSound is also an aspect
of form so think about the sound and how it
can create meaning and add layers.
PHONOLOGY [The way sounds are
organised in a text]
Sound, Metre and Rhythm
Alliteration, assonance, consonance,
dissonance, sibilance, plosives, fricatives
Look for repetition of hard sounds which
emphasise harsh subject matter [p], [b], [t],
[d], [k], [g]

Soft sounds to complement pleasant,

gentle, calm, or romantic subject matter [m],
[l], [f]

STRUCTURE [The way in which the poet

organises their material] The order,
sequence of ideas, events or language in
the text, including its shape and
development. How does it link to the poet /
speakers concerns, message to the
audience and/or themes.
How each stanza (or group of lines)
develops the theme or main idea(s) of the
poem

Placement of words on the line – beginnings and

ends of lines – and effect(s)

Caesura – punctuation creating a pause (eg full

stops, commas, dashes) and effect(s)

Pace, changes in pace (use of short or long

vowel sounds)
End-stopped lines
Enjambment (where meaning is carried over into
the following line – the next line is needed to
complete the meaning) and effect(s)

Nicole Kennedy-Smith : IGCSE & AS LITERATURE

 LANGUAGE

WORDS AND IMAGERY

Figurative language to create effect and
convey ideas.

How each draws vividly on the senses to

shape, communicate and develop ideas
and concerns. Ie: similes, metaphors,
personification, patterns, connotations,
contrasts, symbols, and allusions)

Other

Other diction (word choices)

Repetition and effects
Imperatives and effects
Allusion
How each supports the message of the
poem

OTHER SIGNIFICANT THOUGHTS /

CONNECTIONS:

Nicole Kennedy-Smith : IGCSE & AS LITERATURE