Poetry Study Goals

1) Understand what the writer is trying to convey. What is their tone of voice? What is their message? What kind of clues can help you figure these things out?

2) Study poetic terms. Understand the difference between the meters or stanzas.

3)  Study different writing styles. Romantic vs. sonnet vs. lyric.

4) Know differences of the poem's history, which may help in understanding. What era was it written in? Who wrote it? What were the conditions of the times?

5) Pick up on second meanings and metaphors.