How to Write a Poetry Analysis Essay

Poetry analysis essay can be described as a literary essay that focuses on the reader’s understanding of poems. According to the  online dictionary, a poem is “a piece of writing that usually has figurative language, and that is written in separate lines that often have a repeated rhythm and sometimes rhyme.” From the definition, it is evident that a poem has a writing style as well as a particular structure and these are important when analyzing a poem. Unlike other essays, poetry analysis essays are not easy and call for one’s attention throughout the entire process. From the language used to the styles and also the attributes of the poem (mood, tone), one can easily miss the point and thus end up writing an irrelevant essay. Emphasis is often put on the reading part because people lose the plot during this phase. The universal recommendation is that one should read a poem several times before they start analyzing it but as is always the case, few consider this advice relevant.

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All literary analysis papers have a simple format that begins with an introduction which is inclusive of the thesis statement, then the body which builds on the thesis statement, and finally a conclusion that summarizes one’s points. A poetry analysis essay format is not any different and includes all the parts above. This format is customary to most essay types, and thus people get acquainted with it fast.

A custom poetry analysis paper takes the universal essay form, but its outline is a tad different. The outline goes a step further than the format and explains all that a writer should include in each of the essay’s parts. Considering the poetry analysis essay outline, an introduction is the most important part of the entire paper because it is the one that makes readers want to read more of the essay or to discard it. As per the outline, the introduction should first have an attention-grabber (it can be a quote or a question to the readers), it should also have the author’s name, and finally, it should also have a thesis that briefly tells the audience the writer’s perspective and elements that will be analyzed. An attention-grabber is significant in the sense that it keeps the reader engaged and interested. In the introduction, one should strive to keep their readers and not have a dull beginning that scares the audience.

In the body, the writer should first have a paragraph that explains to the readers the surface and deeper meaning as well as the theme of the poem. Elucidating on the sense of the poem is appropriate because it makes things clearer for the audience and also helps to explain the writer’s angle of argument. The theme of a poem is indeed one of the most important, if not the most important elements of a poem. Essentially, a theme explains why the poem was written and to whom it was written. While explaining the theme, the writer helps their audience to identify with the poem and thus, it should not be left out. Other things such as the tone of the poem, the figures of speech used, the sound effects, and the use of symbolism are also necessary, but an essay write should include them after explaining the meaning and message of the poem. However, the tone should be presented immediately after the message because it is at that point when the writer explains who the persona is and provides appropriate proof.

The secret to poetry analysis essay writing is in reading the poem several times before commencing on the analysis. One needs to completely understand what a poem is about for their analysis to be relevant and their content accurate. The conclusion is also as important as the other parts, and one should ensure that their analysis leaves a lasting impression on their audience. A conclusion, essentially, is a summary of one’s points. Aside from summarizing the points of the essay, one should also restate their thesis statement. The conclusion should engage the audience and ensure that they do not quickly forget about the essay. After reiterating one’s thesis statement and providing a summary of the key points, it is important for the writer to relate the poem to other broader themes in life. The latter helps or makes it possible for the audience to identify with the poem as well as the persona.

The only limitation to developing many Poetry Analysis Essay topics is one’s creativeness and comprehension of poems. The following are some of the items that one can be asked to work on:

–          History.

–          Love.

–          War.

–          Death.

–          Dominant themes in a poem.

–          Use of figurative language in a poem.

–          Faith.

–          Childhood memories.

–          Comparing and contrasting two different poems.

–          Feelings and emotions.

Once one understands a poem, it becomes easier to work on any examined topic. However, it is also important to always maintain the poetry analysis essay structure because this enhances the systematic flow of ideas.

            Poetry has hidden meanings, and it is through analysis that one can understand the message in the poem. The internet is awash with sources that can offer poetry analysis essay help and thus one should always seek assistance when stuck. Poems are fascinating but without analysis, it becomes hard to comprehend the message in the poem thoroughly.

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