Introduction to Poetry – Analysis and Interpretation Questions

1. What is the setting of the poem? How do you know?

2. Who is the speaker in the poem? How do you know?

3. What can you infer about the relationship between the speaker and ‘them’?

4. Collins uses various comparisons to describe the reading of poetry. Choose two of them, and explain them.

5. According to Collins, what do the students want to do?

6. How does Collins expect students to approach poetry? Specifically, what does he think about the analysis of poetry? Base your answer on evidence from the text.

7. What is the theme of the poem, and how is it connected to the poet’s main message?

8. How does the poet use personification in the poem?