How to Look at a Poem

How to Look at a Poem

How to Look at a Poem

If you’re sitting looking at a poem and you’re wondering what to say about it, think about or write about it, one of the best places to start is to ask yourself if there is anything in the poem or about the poem that makes you think of something that has happened in your life – or in the life of someone you know.

Then ask yourself, how does it make you think that? And why does it make you think that?

Now ask yourself, if there is anything in the poem or about the poem that makes you think of something else that someone wrote, another poem or song, or story perhaps? Or a film? Or a TV programme? Or something that someone once said to you?

Then ask yourself, how does it make you think that? And why does it make you think that?

Now ask yourself, have you got any questions you would like to ask anyone in the poem? Or the author? What would you like to ask? Jot down some questions.

Pick one of the questions and see if you can answer it? If not, is there anywhere you can go to find the answer?

If you do all these things you may well find that you start to discover all sorts of things about the poem…

4 Comments

  1. Abbie 7 years ago

    I’m really inspired by your work and you are my favourite poet. My favourite is the Michael Rosen rap. It is great! I know lots about you and I spend some of my time reading about you.

  2. Fiona Buckley 7 years ago

    Hi Michael! I’m a year 1 teacher who is busily growing poets. We have had an amazing week with Lost and I Am Angry! Yesterday the children performed ( roared, growled, snarled and yowled) their own very angry list poems to their classmates! Such joy, such freedom, such giants of poetry! They think they are the bee’s knees! I am inclined to agree with them. If I may, here is the work of 3 boys found their voices today.
    I am angry.really angry.angry,
    angry,angry. I am so angry
    I’ll jump up and down. I’ll roll on the ground…
    Wake a skool
    Poot the sun out
    Rip mountains
    Crush diamonds
    Brake the rocs
    Crsh the Erth
    Destroy towers
    Rip the wals
    Yell at the Yeti
    Stamp on the moon
    And then go to bed.

    Thank you Mr Rosen!
    I am grateful.really grateful.grateful, grateful, grateful…

  3. Alfie 7 years ago

    This is cool

  4. Zara 5 years ago

    I love this because love poems

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