LESSON 5^rd OCTOBER 2011

METHODOLOGICAL STEPS TO ANALYZE A POEM

STEP 1

Analyze the title to see if it creates expectations, if it gives you the possibility to make conjectures about the possible content of the text(poem, novel, play).
WE NEVER READ ANYTHING NEUTRAL.
"SIGNS ARE NEVER INNOCENT" -> create association, make predictions, draw anticipations.
The role of the reader is active, because in order to create meaning during the reading process he has to interact with the text.

STEP 2

Consider layout: the way words look on a text.
The layout allows the reader to decide text type and sometimes even contribute to meaning.
In addition, it can help the reader single out typical conditions of text type.

STEP 3

Read the poem/text at least twice (make sure you understand all the words and if not, try to understand the meaning of unknown words from the co-text - all that goes with the text - and only if you don't understand their meaning, resort to monolingual dictionary).
Follow the thread of the line, create connections and relations between words and different parts of the text, create expectations and test them with the coming lines.

STEP 4

Analyze structure: analyze the functions of the component parts of the text and find out their specific function in the economy of the text. We look, we evaluate, we judge, we single out relationships between the different stanzas.

STEP 5

DENOTATIVE ANALYSIS: to express the content of the poem in your own words, paying attention not to invent, but to read the text faithfully.
To make sense of what we read, set the text in a proper context (place and time).

- Create questions (doubts) in the reader's mind.