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Poetry Analysis Guide for Students

The document provides instructions for analyzing a poem using the SLAM method. It tells the reader to carefully read the title and poem twice. The first read should just be to understand it, and the second read should involve underlining, circling, and coding parts of the poem using the SLAM letters: S for Structure, L for Language, A for Affect, and M for Meaning. Marginal notes should also be taken to record thoughts. Finally, it notes that some aspects of SLAM may be more important than others for a given poem, so to pay attention to what is significant in this particular poem.

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Esmeralda Cartagena
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425 views1 page

Poetry Analysis Guide for Students

The document provides instructions for analyzing a poem using the SLAM method. It tells the reader to carefully read the title and poem twice. The first read should just be to understand it, and the second read should involve underlining, circling, and coding parts of the poem using the SLAM letters: S for Structure, L for Language, A for Affect, and M for Meaning. Marginal notes should also be taken to record thoughts. Finally, it notes that some aspects of SLAM may be more important than others for a given poem, so to pay attention to what is significant in this particular poem.

Uploaded by

Esmeralda Cartagena
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Read the title and the poem. CAREFULLY! Just read it!

Read the poem again! This time use SLAM to help you “unpack” or analyze the meaning
of the poem. Annotate the poem underlining and circling phrases and code the
margins with the SLAM letters. Don’t forget to also include margin notes to record
your thinking!

Finally, remember that some components of SLAM will be more important in one poem
than another. Pay close attention to what is important in this poem.

How are the line breaks structured?


How are the stanzas organized?
tructure Is there punctuation? What does it look like?
How does the structure affect the meaning of the poem?
Is there figurative language present? (simile, metaphor, alliteration,
hyperbole, onomatopoeia, personification)
anguage Are there sound devices present? (rhythm, rhyme, repetition)
Is there sensory language in the poem?
Mood - How does the poem make you feel? What emotions are evoked
because of the language being used?
ffect Tone - How does the author feel or want you to feel when you read the
poem?
What is the subject of the poem? (What is the poem mainly about?)
Is there symbolism? What is the deeper meaning of the symbols used
eaning in the poem?
What is the central message or theme of the poem?
Why is the title important and how does it set the context of the
poem?
- Created By John DePasquale For Classroom Use

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