Some Helpful Hints for Poetry

For me poetry is the hardest module. I get confused and overwhelmed by the amount of crap required of me. My brain shuts down and I write like a mentally deranged squirrel. Not my best module at all. Here are some tips to prevent you from losing it while analysing poetry or writing poetry essays.


   1. Know your poet!
 Poets tend to have recurring themes in their poetry. Once you do a few poems by ANY poet you'll realize that they're obsessed with death/nature/relationships/society. Make a list of some recurring themes in your poetry because most likely you'll be encountering them all the time.
 For example Les Murray is completely obsessed with:

• The Human Condition
• Urbanization
• Consumerism
• God-conciousness
• Loss of Humanity
• Displacement of Aboriginal People

   2. Study Smart!

In your exam they always ask you to refer to at least THREE poems by your poet. I'm not telling you to learn only three, but if you have two days to study for the exam it really doesn't make sense trying to learn all by heart. Learn the main ones, the ones you believe portray the themes the best and have the most to write on. 

  3. Don't narrate!

I bet you've heard this enough already for prose and poetry. Don't retell the story! The examiners have read the novel, they know what happened. The same goes for poetry. Retelling each line of the poem isn't going to get you a one. Stick to the question they ask and use your information wisely. They look for analysis more than knowledge. SO FUCKING ANALYSE THAT SHIT! 

4. Prepare

I don't care if you have three days left and you haven't picked up a book. Prepare and organize your notes wisely. Go through each poem and comment on the techniques and devices used (more about that in a next post). And write it down!! I'm telling you won't remember it....Do this for at least five poems. on your 'study sheets' (yes that's what I'm calling them). It will be helpful to compare some poems here before hand so that it will just be a matter of recalling in the exam. 

5. Plan

I want essay plans! Both in and out of the exam. When doing past papers, plan before you write. It provides some framework for you to work with so that your essays will actually have structure and not be all over the place. You don't even need to actually write the past paper essays, just plan them out.