poetry critique
paragraph 4
paragraph 2
click to edit
paragraph 3
introduction
paragraph 5
What does the title tell you about the poem?
What is your first impression of the poem? Do you like it? Why or why not?
What is the poem about? (What is the theme or subject of the poem?)
Tone: Do you think the author has a positive or negative attitude toward the subject? (Or a different feeling toward the subject of the poem?) Explain.
Mood: What is the mood of the poem? Is it happy, sad, devastating, etc.? Which words contribute to the overall mood?
Do you think the poem has a purpose? What do you think it is? What do others (experts) think it is?
Does the author write about a person or event from history? Explain.
Does the author write about certain things from the past?
When was the poem written and/or published (year)?
What do you know about that time period?
Where was the poet living and what was he/she doing (working, going to school, etc.) at that time?
Do you think what was going on during that time period had anything to do with this poem? Explain.
Are there any divisions in the poem? (Separate stanzas)
What is the type of the poem?
Does the poem rhyme?
Does it follow a particular rhyme scheme? If so, explain.
What do the words alone tell you? (What does it make you think of?)
Are there any difficult or confusing words? List them.
Why do you think the author chose to use those particular words?
figurative language and it's effect
sound devices and it's effect