Top Eight Tips to Reading a Poem

1. Be open to a variety of styles and themes. Push against preconceived opinions formed by merely looking at the title, author’s name, or layout of a poem. Part of the beauty of poetry is that it provides us with different perspectives and outlooks on the world. Thus, while personal connections can form an emotional link to a certain poem, it is equally important to explore unknown or new ideas.

2. Take notes in the margins. When we read, a lot can go lost as we are prone to skimming over words and can fail to notice the repetition of symbols, overarching themes, etc. “Marginalia” allows us to realize our thought and collect them so that we can see how they fit together to create a bigger picture.

Truncheon Press. “Notes in the Margins,” Tumbler, truncheonpress.tumblr.com/post/177377744257/i-just-wanted-to-put-some-notes-in-the-margins. Accessed 14 Apr. 2021.

3. Do not read a poem in a rush. Sometimes, it takes three to four reads to fully start understanding poetry. Be patient and allow yourself to realize that you, like a poet, have to piece together your own meaning from the jumble of words in front of you. Remember to take time to appreciate the image or feeling a poem conveys to you.

4. Read poetry out loud. We think and make connections as we talk. Words skimmed while reading can stand out to us when we enunciate them out loud. This is especially important for poetry because rhythm and rhymes can be fully appreciated as we develop a cadence when we speak.

5. Search up definitions of unknown words. Not knowing words can be a large hurdle in the path to realizing the meaning of a poem. A quick Google search is extremely helpful and can shed light on intricacies that could be important. It even helps expand your vocabulary!

6. Explore the biography of your poem’s author. A lot of poems can be based on experiences the poet made within their lifetime that shaped their perspective. Therefore, especially if you are reading a poem that was written in a different era, it can be insightful to look into what world the author lived in and how that environment did or did not influence their writing.

 

7. Notice reoccurring images or words. Repetition is easy to notice and very revealing. Recurring topics and motifs may indicate symbolism or connotate a theme that can help you appreciate writing with its various layers. It can be thrilling to see how small details like doors or birds can conceal a well-thought-out message.

8. You do not always need to fully understand what a poem means. Lastly, it is key to remember that sometimes it is alright not to know everything. Trying to discover every hidden meaning in literature is a recipe for insanity. Many poems are designed to be ambiguous, so it can be sufficient to enjoy the rhyme scheme or composition of the writing (just like abstract art can instill deep feelings in some while just appealing aesthetically to others). A confusing stanza here or there can, instead of being frustrating, provide great food for thought.