Close Reading Assignment Information

Strategies for Interpreting a Poem

Perform a close reading of one of the poems that are either listed below or linked to in the Close Reading module on D2L.

Poems from the anthology:

1. Beth Cuthand: “Shake N’ Bake” (269)
2. Daniel David Moses: “The Persistence of Songs” (388)
3. Annharte: “Coyote Trail” (183)
4. Wayne Keon: “my sweet maize” (225)
5. Jeannette C. Armstrong: “Sketches” (247)
6. Rita Bouvier: “a spider tale” (316)
7. Alootook Ipellie: “Journey Toward Possibilities” (360)
8. Duncan Mercredi: “could be anyone but I call him syd” (380)
9. Louise Halfe: “Body Politics” (409)
10. Garry Gottfriedson: “Cowboy Up” (433)

What follows are things to look for as you come to an interpretation of your chosen poem. You do not have to cover all of the elements listed; in fact, I really hope you don’t. Only use elements that support your interpretation of the text. Also, make sure that you do more than indicate that, for example, “there is alliteration in line three.” If you are mentioning a literary device, then also explain its effect on the poem’s meaning.

Identify all similes, images, metaphors, and symbols, repetitions, and oppositions and list implications and suggested meanings as well as denotations. What visual insights does each word give? Look for multiple and overlapping meanings. Look into the etymology of each word and consider how each word or group of words suggests a pattern and/or points to an abstraction (e.g., time, loss, voice, death).