1. Who is the speaker in this poem? What kind of person is he or she?
2. To whom is he/she speaking? In other words, describe the speaker's audience.
3. What is the situation and setting in time (era) and place?
4. What is the purpose of the poem?
5. State the poem's central idea or theme in a single sentence.
6. Indicate and explain (if you can) any allusions. Do the allusions share a common idea?
7. Describe the structure of the poem. What is its meter and form? (Scan it.)
8. How do the structure of the poem and its content relate?
9. What is the tone of the poem? How is it achieved?
10. Notice the poem's diction. Discuss any words that seem especially well chosen?
11. Are there any predominant images in the poem?
12. Note metaphors, similes, and personification, and discuss their effects.
13. Recognize and discuss examples of paradox, overstatement (hyperbole), and understatement (litotes).
14. Explain any symbols. Is the poem allegorical?
15. Explain the significance of any sound repetition (alliteration, assonance, consonance, etc.).
16. Discuss whether or not you think the poem is successful.
NOTE: The underlined words are the terms to use when discussing poetry from any era. They are useful in discussing prose as well.