AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

Explicating a Poem

  1. Read the poem at least three times
  2. Paraphrase each line or stanza
  3. Who is the speaker? To whom is he or she speaking? What is the point of view?
  4. Examine the imagery and determine which of the five senses are appealed to in the poem.
  5. How does the poet manipulate the meanings of words? Identify any use of word connotations, allusion, repetition, puns, and irony. Identify lines and elaborate where necessary.
  6. What is the tone and atmosphere of the poem? Briefly explain how the diction and syntax affect the tone.
  7. What forms of figurative language are used in the poem? Identify and write the lines. How do these contribute to the effect of the poem?
  8. Besides rhyme, what other sound devices are used? Identify and write the lines. How do these contribute to the effect of the poem?
  9. Does the poet make use of symbolism? Identify lines, write the examples, and briefly explain.
  10. What is the universal theme or central idea of the poem? How well do you think the poet has the point across?
Subject: 
Subject X2: 

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!