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Question: I have to write a poetry analysis for a test!?
From
Title
Character
Setting
Action
Tone
Shift
Meaning!.
How can I make a good poetry analysis out of this!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Title
What is the title to start with!? For instance if you were looking at the poem plena timoris (just one of my personal favourites) the title is latin for woman full of fear and dread!. This sets of the tone of the poem, it creates an ominous air to the text!. You get the idea, see if the title does anything, does it create an image, make you think of something!?

Character
Pretty much self explanatory, look at the person's character, does he start of with an opinion which changes through the poem, is it for the better or the worse, are his/her actions justified!?

Setting
Where does the poem take place, is it in a graveyard, does this setting effect the feel of the poem (for instance if it was in a graveyard does it create a deathly atmosphere, is it dark and dreary to portray depression or something of the sort!?) What changes in the environment - taking a graveyard as an example does it go from the dead of the night to dawn (symbolising the person getting over whatever it was)!. Does the setting change!?

Action
Well a lot can be meant by action, I am taking it to mean what the character does!. Quite explanatory, look at what the character does and relate it to his personality and the setting

Tone
This is self explanatory, what is the tone of the poem, is it dark, chirpy, how does this relate to the content!?

Shift
Honestly no clue what is meant by this - ask your tutor

Meaning
After doing all the above steps you will have effectively dissected the poem - you have all the changes, problems and motifs!. What you need to do know is consider all of these things as one and decide what you think the author is trying!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Does it have to be in order!? All you have to do is explain the poem, is tehre anything really hard about it!?

Talk about your thoughts on the poem, any turning points, where you think it took place, or whatever!. If you somehow get the setting or whatever wrong, prove to your teacher that poems can be interpreted differently!.Www@QuestionHome@Com