Mr. Petrucci - Exploding a Poem lyrics

1. What is the poem about? Summarise the main subject of the poem in one or two sentences. 2. Who is speaking in the poem? To whom? Is it the poet's voice speaking or is it the voice of someone else, real or imagined? Is the voice speaking to you? Is the voice quietly reflecting to himself/herself? Is the voice addressing the world in general? 3. How does the poem convey its message? a) How does the poem look on the page? Verses What do you notice about the poem's appearance? What is its shape? Does it use regular voices? A short single block? Sprawling across the page? Short lines? Long lines? The poet decided to present the poem in this way. Are there any obvious reasons why? b) How does the poem sound? Imagery What are the main images the poet uses? Which are particularly striking? Why? Does the poet use any comparisons? For example, similes, metaphors or personification? Diction Look carefully at the poet's choice of words - why were those particular words chosen? Do they create a specific effect or tone? Alliteration and Assonance Are there repeated consonants or vowel sounds within a line? How do they affect the sound of the poem? Tense What tense does the writer use - past, present or future? Is there a combination of all three? Rhythm and Rhyme How does the poem seem to move? Do the sound and rhythm of the lines seem light and bouncy, or do the lines move slowly with heavily rounded soundss and a slow rhythm? Are the sounds and rhythms different at different places in the poem? Do any of the lines rhyme? What effect do the rhYmes have? Punctuation Does the punctuation, or lack of it, help you to see how the poem should be read? Do the lines run into each other without a break, or are the ends sharply marked by punctuation? Mood What is the mood of the poem? Does it feel happy, sad, sentimental, defiant, thoughtful, triumphant, unemotional? 4. Why do you think the poet has written the poem? How does the poet feel about you the reader? Are you being asked to share something personal? Are you being pleaded with, mocked or laughed at, preached at? Is the poetry trying to teach you something, persuade you, move you, entertain you? How does the poet feel about the subject of the poem? Are you being offered a message or a view of things the writer wants you to share or understand? i If so, what might this be? Does the title of the poem help you to understand the poet's purpose? 5. What is your personal response to the poem? How did you react to the poem? Did it move you? Did it make you think about an issue more deeply? Did it make you feel? Do you think the poem is effective? Why?