Unlocking the Poem: A Guide to Discovering Meaning through Understanding and Analysis

The way to understand a poem is to get to know it as itself, rather than as an example of poetic technique. Unlocking the Poem treats each poem as an independent literary event, just as it was written. Discussion of literary elements begins only after you have fully explored the poem with your eyes, ears, feelings, and mind. The simple progression of steps at the core of each lesson provides a path toward understanding that you can use to connect with any poem that you may encounter.