Suggestions for Reading a Poem

“The reader must not sit back and expect the poet to do all the work.”
—Edith Sitwell

Reading a poem successfully takes time. You might read this four-line poem by Atwood literally in seven seconds—but if you do, you’ve barely scratched the surface (pardon the pun). What images does Atwood use to create first a sense of domestic connection, and then, a more jarring image of disconnection? How does the juxtaposition of the images affect the reader? Reading is about asking questions.

Click here for an easily printable .pdf of this handout.

“you fit into me”
by Margaret Atwood

you fit into me
like a hook into an eye

a fish hook
an open eye

Expect to read a poem several times, not just once or twice.

Read the poem out loud, and listen to it.

Paraphrase the poem, or restate it in your own words. Just look at what the words literally say, without worrying yet about the “deep hidden meaning.”

Pay attention to sentences—don’t stop reading at the end of the line, but at the end of the phrase or sentence. Skim over the poem looking at where the sentences begin and end.

And then look at lines. Where are the lines breaking? Do any lines vary from the established pattern in the poem—are some very short? or very long in comparison to others?

Look at the words the poem uses—any words you don’t know? Look them up! Any words repeated in the poem?

What objects in the poem might take on symbolic value? Remember, a symbol might be a person, a thing, a place, even an event that begins to mean something beyond its surface meaning, as winter can symbolize death.

What comparisons does the poet make? Remember the difference between a metaphor and a simile:

Metaphor: a metaphor compares two things, sometimes directly equating them. In Emily Dickinson’s metaphor, “The Brain—is wider than the Sky.”

Simile: also a comparison, but using “as” or “like” or “as if.” “There came a Wind like a Bugle,” Dickinson begins another poem.
Pay attention to punctuation—why a comma, or a period? Punctuation establishes a relationship between the parts of a sentence.

Do a little research. What content does the poem reference that you need more information about? Does the poem appear to be using a form that you don’t recognize (and there are loads of other poetic forms than the sonnet!)?

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This page copyright 2000-2007 by Lisa Hammond | last update 3 May 2006