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Start by reading the poem aloud several times. Take your time and pronounce each word slowly. Be careful not to skip any words or rush through any lines. Each word and line of the poem is important, so spend time listening to how each one sounds. Have a pencil or pen on hand when you read the poem aloud. Underline or circle any words that stand out to you as you read. Sometimes it can also help to listen to the poet read their own work aloud. Check online to see if you can find an audio clip of the poet reading their poem. As you read the poem aloud, notice if it has a certain rhythm to it. The rhythm will be part of the overall meaning of the poem. Think about how the rhythm makes you feel as a listener. For example, you may notice that there are a lot of short, clipped lines in the poem, creating a jumpy rhythm. Or you may notice there are a lot of long lines that flow on into the other, creating a more fluid rhythm. Poems are broken into sections called stanzas. Stanzas can range from four lines to ten lines or more. Some poems have just one stanza and others have multiple stanzas. Look at the poem and count how many stanzas there are. Consider how the stanzas relate to each other or transition into one another. Ask yourself, "Why would the poet organize the stanzas this way?" "What does the structure of the poem have to do with the meaning of the poem?" Poems can also be divided into numbered sections instead of stanzas. Some poems are not broken into stanzas and appear as words scattered on the page. In this case, think about why the poet would divide the poem into words or phrases, rather than lines and stanzas. Notice if certain words rhyme in each line of the poem. Look for a pattern where certain lines contain a rhyme, usually at the end of the lines. Write down the rhyme scheme using the letters "A" and "B" to notate rhyming lines. For example, if you notice the first line and the third line rhyme, you will represent them as "A" in the rhyme scheme. If you notice the second and fourth lines also rhyme, you will represent them as "B." This means the rhyme scheme will be "ABAB" for the poem. If you notice there are different rhymes in the fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth lines of the poem, you will use "C" and "D" to note them. For example, you may have a poem with a rhyme scheme like "ABABCDCD." The meter in the poem is the number of beats, or stressed syllables, in each line. Stressed syllables will sound louder or more pronounced when you read them aloud. Unstressed syllables will sound softer. Listen for the stressed syllables in each line of the poem. For example, you may notice that the first line in the poem has three stressed syllables and the second line has two stressed syllables. This will give the poem a certain meter. Another way you can determine the meter is by scanning the poem. This technique can help you better understand the rhythm and structure of the poem. You will need to double space the poem and have a physical copy of it on hand to scan it. Once you have determined the rhyme scheme and meter of the poem, determine its form. The form is the type of poem it is, such as haiku, sonnet, sestina, free-verse, or limerick. Review different forms to find the one that fits the poem. For example, if you have a poem that is three lines and that follows a 5-7-5 syllable pattern, it is likely a haiku. You may talk about how a haiku is meant to be a snapshot of a moment in time. You can also discuss the history of the haiku and how it has been used by Japanese poets, as well as Western poets, to describe moments in nature.
Read the poem out loud. Listen to the rhythm of the poem. Notice how the poem is separated or broken up. Determine the rhyme scheme, if there is one. Look at the meter. Identify the form of the poem.