Summarize the following:
If you are a student trying to pull out literary devices to gain an understanding of the mechanics of a poem, your definition will be very different from someone who is simply reading for enjoyment. Generally speaking, the "meaning" of a poem isn't a singular thing, but is instead an interpretation formed by the reader and supported by the text. If you are a student in a class on poetry, or studying a unit on poetry in your literature class, your goal will likely be outlined by your teacher or professor. If you are reading the poetry of a favorite author for fun, your goal might be to understand that author's point of view. Speaking broadly, the goal of the academic study of poetry is to understand the poem critically through the use of literary devices (sometimes called literary terms). By using these established tropes, or patterns, you can support your opinions and interpretations. Musicians' goal may be to gain a better understanding of prosody, which is the rhythm and patters of stress in language. Many kinds of poetry fall into specific stress patterns, also called prosodic patterns. By understanding how systems of sounds work together, a musician can more intentionally craft lyrics to fit sound. While you probably won't need to be armed to the teeth with an understanding of literary devices to enjoy reading poetry, a little knowledge can shed considerable light on the poem you are reading. The following terms and descriptions are commonly occurring literary devices that might be useful to you: Allusion - a figure of speech the author uses to refer to a specific thing, event, place in a passing reference. Diction - the choice of wording or particular expressions that an author chooses in his work. Foreshadowing - clues that hint at future events in the author's writing. Form: the distribution of elements in a poem, sometimes regulated by rules of structure, sometimes free and irregular. Imagery - the use of words and phrases, as chosen by an author, to evoke a mental picture in the mind of the reader. Metaphor - the comparison of two distinct subjects, as in: the world is a stage. Personification - the attachment of human traits to something not human. Point-of-view - the angle of perception through which the writing unfolds, in many cases, completely separate and different from considerations of the author. Rhyme - the repetition of the same or similar sounds in two or more words. Simile - the comparison of two distinct subjects using the words like or as, as in: she was built like a refrigerator. Each literary device that you notice will give you an opportunity to apply a question to the poem. Why has the author chosen this particular technique? Why did he decide on this choice of words? Why did he use this particular metaphor in this particular place? You don't need to read an Emily Dickinson biography to understand and enjoy her poetry. But by knowing the time period she lived in and the highlights of her career, you will be able to think about things from her perspective better. This improves your chances of understanding. A pencil or pen and paper will allow you to record your impressions, jot down unfamiliar words, and mark passages that might be difficult for you to understand. This can also be helpful for highlighting and remembering literary devices while reading.
Define "understand" for yourself. Establish your goal. Familiarize yourself with the basics. Prepare yourself to ask questions. Do some light research. Equip yourself for note-taking.