How to Read a Poem Annotations n

How to Read a Poem – Annotations n n Yes, you know how to read, but poetry is different! LOOK at the poem with out reading the words. Notice the long lines and the short lines. Where are they on the page? Do you see any rhyme scheme? Do you see any unusual punctuation? Question marks? Dashes? Read once for SUBJECT/FEELING – Overall impression – What is this about? Is there a prevailing emotion? Read twice for WORD CHOICE – What stands out in the words? Look for a common motif? Are there several words that relate to each other? How? What words are repeated?

How to Read a Poem - Annotations n Read the third time for FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE. You may have already seen instances of literary devices, now is the time to identify them. n n n Alliteration, personification, onomatopoeia, assonance, metaphor, simile Read the fourth time for IMAGERY. Pay attention to the words that you identified when you read for word choice and the sections where you identified figurative language. The author did this on purpose to create an image in your head! Read information about the AUTHOR, then read the poem for the 5 th time. Sometimes you will have access to author info, sometimes you won’t! Today you do. This is key to figuring out the TONE because you will be able to see where the SPEAKER is coming from. What is the tone? Why do you think this? (Remember TONE is an EMOTION. )

“Big Wind” by Theodore Roethke Commentary Concrete Detail Subject Storm and Greenhouse “worst wind was…” ln. 16 Paraphrase This poem speaks about a greenhouse in a storm compared to a ship at sea. Language Personification Alliteration Onomatopoeia assonance “teeth of it…” ln 24 “Lunging…lashing…” ln 2 “Creaking …cracking” 17 “Big Wind” Imagery Wind as water Greenhouse as a ship “Wind-waves” ln 26 “She sailed until the calm morning…” 32 Tone Admiring and respectful “She rode it out that old rose-house…” 21/22 Speaker

“Big Wind” Theme Statement T-A-L-L In “Big Wind” by Theodore Roethke, .