1. How To Interpret A Poem for Meaning
A Step by Step Approach That Works
How To Interpret A Poem for Meaning

2. When interpreting poems for meaning , a variety of different interpretations are possible as long as there is evidence in the poem to support your interpretation… As long as you stay within the “goal posts” of acceptable interpretation based on the evidence in the poem.

3. What can we tell about the old
lady’s circumstances (life)
based on the details given
in this photograph?

4. How might your interpretation
change when I include additional
details? (For example, if I opened
the curtains to reveal what she
sees outside?)
For instance, how might your
Interpretation change if outside
the window you could see the
the ocean and the trace of a
lighthouse?

5. However, if you said the old lady
is worried because a burglar
is breaking into her house,
you would be going outside the
“goal post” or acceptable
margin or interpretation since
there is no evidence in the
photograph to support this
interpretation.

6. Step 1- Determine the Poet’s Purpose
To create an image
(or a sensory experience- a series of images which appeal to one or more of the five senses of taste, touch, smell , sight, sound)
To evoke an emotional response
These first two type often create a specific mood or atomosphere
To tell a story
To make a comment about life or society
(OR A COMBINATION OF ONE OR MORE OF THESE)

7. What is the purpose of this poem?
Silver
Slowly, silently, now the moon Walks the night in her silver shoon; This way, and that, she peers, and sees Silver fruit upon silver trees; One by one the casements catch Her beams beneath the silvery thatch; Couched in his kennel, like a log, With paws of silver sleeps the dog; From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep Of doves in silver feathered sleep A harvest mouse goes scampering by, With silver claws, and silver eye; And moveless fish in the water gleam, By silver reeds in a silver stream.

8. What is the purpose of this poem?
Silver
Slowly, silently, now the moon Walks the night in her silver shoon; This way, and that, she peers, and sees Silver fruit upon silver trees; One by one the casements catch Her beams beneath the silvery thatch; Couched in his kennel, like a log, With paws of silver sleeps the dog; From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep Of doves in silver feathered sleep A harvest mouse goes scampering by, With silver claws, and silver eye; And moveless fish in the water gleam, By silver reeds in a silver stream.
To create an image
(or a sensory experience- a series of images which appeal to one or more of the five senses of taste, touch, smell , sight, sound)
To evoke an emotional response
These first two type often create a specific mood or atmosphere
To tell a story
To make a comment about life or society
(OR A COMBINATION OF ONE OR MORE OF THESE)

9. What is the purpose of this poem?

10. To evoke an emotional response
LOST
DESOLATE and lone All night long on the lake Where fog trails and mist creeps, The whistle of a boat Calls and cries unendingly, Like some lost child In tears and trouble Hunting the harbor's breast And the harbor's eyes.
To create an image
(or a sensory experience- a series of images which appeal to one or more of the five senses of taste, touch, smell , sight, sound)
To evoke an emotional response
These first two type often create a specific mood or atmosphere
To tell a story
To make a comment about life or society
(OR A COMBINATION OF ONE OR MORE OF THESE)

11. What is the purpose of this poem?
First Ice (by Andrei Voznesensky) A girl freezes in a telephone booth In her draughty overcoat hides A face all smeared In tears and lipstick She breathes on her thin palms. Her fingers are icy. She wears earrings. She’ll have to go home, alone. Along the icy street. First ice. It is the first time. The first ice of telephone phrases. Frozen tears glitter on her cheeks- The first ice of human hurt.

12. What is the purpose of this poem?
First Ice (by Andrei Voznesensky) A girl freezes in a telephone booth In her draughty overcoat hides A face all smeared In tears and lipstick She breathes on her thin palms. Her fingers are icy. She wears earrings. She’ll have to go home, alone. Along the icy street. First ice. It is the first time. The first ice of telephone phrases. Frozen tears glitter on her cheeks- The first ice of human hurt.
To create an image
(or a sensory experience- a series of images which appeal to one or more of the five senses of taste, touch, smell , sight, sound)
To evoke an emotional response
These first two type often create a specific mood or atmosphere
To tell a story
To make a comment about life or society
(OR A COMBINATION OF ONE OR MORE OF THESE)

13. Step 2- Determine meaning by examining the poet’s use of the following
Diction (word choice)
Comparative language
Metaphors , similes, personification
Sound devices
Alliteration, cacophony, euphony etc..
Punctuation
Periods, commas, exclamation marks, question marks
Form or structure
Rhyme, free verse, line arrangement

14. Exercise # 1- Answer the following questions about the poem “Lost”
In a word, state the mood (atmosphere) of this poem .
Select a couple of words or phrases (diction) the poet uses to create this mood.
Select two examples of comparative language and determine whether each is an example of metaphor, simile , or personification.
Find an example of cacophony and explain how this sound device matches the subject of this poem.
How does the poet’s use of two commas and one period match the subject of this poem?
How does the form and line arrangement match the subject of this poem?

15. Step 3- determining the “significance” of a Line of text
Sometimes in exam situations you are asked to determine the significance of a line of text from the poem.

16. Doing this involves determining whether the line does one or more the following.
Reveal character?
Reveal conflict?
Reveal theme?
Contain and literary device ( metaphor , simile, personification or some other device)?
Contain a sound device (alliteration, cacaphony, euphony, or some other device)?
Act as a turning point in the plot ( move the plot forward in some way)?

17. Example – What is the significance of this line from the Poem “First ice”
Does the line:
Reveal character?
Reveal conflict?
Reveal theme?
Contain and literary device ( metaphor , simile, personification or some other device)?
Contain a sound device (alliteration, cacaphony, euphony, or some other device)?
Act as a turning point in the plot
( move the plot forward in some way?
“Frozen tears glitter on her cheeks- The first ice of human hurt.”

18. Step 4- determine if the poet uses juxtaposition (contrast)
Often poet’s use juxtaposition to make their point.

19. Definition of juxtaposition
To place together or side by side for the purpose of comparison and contrast.
Synonymous with contrast, two objects or text that oppose one another.

20. Pronunciation
juhk-stuh-puh-zish-uh n

21. Pronunciation
juhk-stuh-puh-zish-uh n

22. Literary Examples
Romeo, who is love-sick, and Tybalt, who is fiery mad in Romeo and Juliet.
The juxtaposition of Ralph who represents civility, and Jack who represents savagery in “Lord of the Flies”

23. Literary Examples
Romeo, who is love-sick, and Tybalt, who is fiery mad in Romeo and Juliet.
The juxtaposition of Ralph who represents civility, and Jack who represents savagery in “Lord of the Flies”