Poems communicate ideas through their speaker, imagery and structure. In a poem where an old tree speaks, the speaker's voice lets us imagine a hundred years of history.
Structure includes stanzas, repetition and how the poem changes from beginning to end. Repeating “I have…” in a list emphasises experience. A final stanza that invites the reader to “sit for a while” turns description into a message.
To explore meaning, ask what the poem is about on the surface, then what deeper idea it suggests.
Worked example
Why might a poet give the voice of the poem to an old tree?
- A tree has lived a long time and seen many changes.
- Its voice can make readers value nature and patience.
Answer:To make readers see the tree as wise and worth protecting.
Key words
- speaker
- the voice in a poem
- imagery
- language that creates pictures
- structure
- how a text is organised
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: RL.6.4