ESSAY: POEM ANALYSIS
Choose a poem in this unit or in a poetry anthology. Use your literary critique skills and apply them to analyzing the poem.

OBJECTIVES
Compose an analysis of a poem.
Make sure your analysis addresses the following:

Poetic diction: Is the language appropriate to the subject matter? Does the language used add or detract from the meaning of the poem?
Rhyme and meter: Analyze the use of rhyme and meter.
Poetic devices: Locate and discuss any poetic devices contained in the poem.
Figurative language and symbolism: Locate and discuss any figurative language and symbolism.
Examine the elements and use them to interpret, analyze, and evaluate the poem. Your analysis should be at least 300 words in length.

You will be graded on the following criteria:

Clearly state your interpretation and support it with evidence from the poem. Use specific quotes, scansion, and literary analysis.
Make sure each paragraph contains one main idea and supporting details. Use complete sentences including compound and complex sentences.
Include an introductory paragraph, proper transitions, and an appropriate conclusion.
If your poem is from an anthology, remember to document its source according to MLA format (or the format asigned by your teacher). Click here to review the MLA Style Guide.
Make sure your essay contains no errors in conventions such as spelling or grammatical errors, and is at least 300 words long.