Interpreting Poetry
A simple method for understanding the imagery, message and language of poetry, used in analyzing and interpreting poems.
'The Uses of Poetry' by William Carlos Williams 
William Carlos Williams's poem "The Uses of Poetry" offers an interesting insight into why so many people enjoy poetry. Analyzing 'Wrong Number' by Wisława Szymborska
Can a poem be interpreted in more than one way? Here's a classical textual analysis of "Wrong Number" by Wisława Syzmborska. The poem also lends itself to a political interpretation. What do you think? Creative Methods and Techniques for Poetry
When inspiration seems lacking, try these alternative exercises to rekindle your inner muse. Emerson's Transcendentalist Poem
Emerson's eleven-line poem, "Days," has been variously interpreted; this article offers one of those many interpretations. Figures of Speech - Metonymy and Synecdoche
Two of the most troublesome figures of speech to keep straight - metonymy and synecdoche - and how to differentiate successfully between the two. Figures of Speech - Simile and Metaphor
Figurative language by definition encompasses any aspect of language that is not strictly literal, and is considered to be the hallmark of poetics. Here’s a handy guide to determining simile from metaphor, and everything in between. Interpreting 'Some Like Poetry' by Wisława Szymborska
Wisława Szymborska explores the relationship between poetry and its devotees in "Some Like Poetry." How do you relate to poetry? Read more to discover how a Nobel Prize winning poet describes her relationship to her art. Langston Hughes' Cosmic Voice
Poet Langston Hughes wrote his best poem, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," at age eighteen. This article shows the unusual perception of such a young poet. Plath's ‘Morning Song’ - A Handful of Notes
A mother's love for her new born can become a less than beautiful thing in the mind of troubled woman. Poetry and the Spiritual Realm
Poety can help the devotee stay motivated in his pursuit of a spiritual life. The great guru Paramahansa Yogananda offered many uplifting and encouraging poems for this very purpose. Political Analysis of 'Wrong Number' by Wisława Szymborska
Can poetry and politics mix? A quick look at informing a poem analysis through looking at the world in which the poet lived. Practice Analyzing Sound in Poetry
Put the principles of analyzing sound in poetry to work with this example analysis. Principles of Analyzing Sound in Poetry
Poets choose words carefully for their sounds. Learn how to identify and interpret the role of sound in poetry. Ralph Waldo Emerson - Philosopher-Poet
Ralph Waldo Emerson is most noted for his essays and his philosophical movement called Transcendentalism, but he also wrote poetry, sometimes first-rate poetry. Some Claims are Preposerous
Part 2 of the "How to Read a Poem" series explains why the absurd interpretation of the Pastan poems is absurd and suggests a more appropriate interpretation. The Function of Line in Poetry
How do poets decide when to “turn” a line, to begin a new line instead of continuing on the same one? Sometimes, the line breaks in a poem are dictated by a strict meter or rhyme scheme–but more often today, it is the poet who uses his or her license to choose to break a line of poetry. What is Interpretation?
The conclusion of the "How to Read a Poem" series offers suggestions 4 - 6 and includes a Dickinson poem for you practice the advice from this series. What is Poetry?
What constitutes a bad poem from a good one? If the answer is not immediately apparent, read on for the number one way of how to determine it! Who is the Speaker of a Poem?
Just because a poem uses the word “I” doesn’t mean that it’s the poet herself speaking. Learn why it makes a difference.
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