Introduction

Poetry is a form of literature that uses language to evoke emotion and convey meaning. Each poem is unique and can be interpreted in different ways. However, every poem has an overall message or theme that the poet is trying to communicate. In this article, we will discuss how to analyze a poem and determine its overall message.

Analysis

When analyzing a poem, there are several elements to consider:

• Form: What is the structure of the poem? Is it a sonnet, haiku, free verse, or another form?
• Rhyme: Does the poem have a rhyme scheme? If so, what is it?
• Meter: Does the poem have a specific rhythm or meter?
• Imagery: What images or sensory details does the poet use to create a picture in the reader’s mind?
• Figurative language: Does the poet use metaphors, similes, or other types of figurative language to convey meaning?
• Tone: What is the poet’s attitude towards the subject matter?

Once you have analyzed these elements, you can begin to determine the overall message of the poem. Ask yourself:

• What is the poem about? What is the subject matter or topic?
• What is the poet trying to say about the subject? What is the message or theme?
• How does the poet use language to convey this message? What literary devices or techniques does the poet use?

For example, let’s analyze the poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost:

			Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
			And sorry I could not travel both
			And be one traveler, long I stood
			And looked down one as far as I could
			To where it bent in the undergrowth;

			Then took the other, as just as fair,
			And having perhaps the better claim,
			Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
			Though as for that the passing there
			Had worn them really about the same,

			And both that morning equally lay
			In leaves no step had trodden black.
			Oh, I kept the first for another day!
			Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
			I doubted if I should ever come back.

			I shall be telling this with a sigh
			Somewhere ages and ages hence:
			Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
			I took the one less traveled by,
			And that has made all the difference.
			

Form: The poem is a four-stanza poem with a rhyme scheme of ABAAB.

Imagery: The poet uses imagery to describe the two roads and the yellow wood.

Figurative language: The poet uses the metaphor of the two roads to represent choices in life.

Tone: The poet’s tone is regretful but also reflective.

Overall message: The poem’s overall message is that life is full of choices, and sometimes the road less traveled can make all the difference.

Conclusion

By analyzing a poem’s form, rhyme, meter, imagery, figurative language, and tone, you can determine its overall message or theme. Remember that every poem is unique and can be interpreted in different ways, so don’t be afraid to share your own interpretation with others.