Poetry Essay Writing Skills

Writing a
FANTASTIC
Poetry Essay
1. What is being tested?
2. Writing an effective introduction
3. Structuring your paragraphs: Extended PEEAAL or PQC
4. What to comment on in your essays.
5. How to conclude
6. Using quotations effectively
7. Mistakes to avoid
Which assessment objective do you
believe is your weakest? How could you
improve this?
2. Key words
Introductions 1. Contextualise. Answer the overall

Give an overview question by making
A three step of the poem, reference to key words
from the question.
ensuring that you
process to keep it relevant to
success. the question. (I.e.
do not just mention
random facts
about the 3. Techniques
poet/poem if they Mention major
have no relevance techniques or aspects of
to the overall the poem that you will be
question. referring to in your essay.
Example:
How does Stevenson portray Notice the CONTEXT
(summarising the
a sense of wonder at the aspect of the poem
most relevant to the
newborn baby? question) and how it
directly responds to
the question
● Stevenson’s poem ‘The Spirit is Too Blunt an (portray’s the
Instrument’ is a deeply moving poem about a speaker’s sense of
mother gazing down at her newborn baby and
describing the baby in incredible detail. The poet
wonder) and
portrays the speaker’s sense of wonder through techniques (through
the use of jargon, metaphor and similes, as well as the use of jargon etc)
various structural elements.
● Note: You do not need to list every aspect that you

will discuss. Just choose a few particularly
important ones.
Paragraphing: Expanded PEEAAL/PETAL
(There are no hard and fast rules!)
At its most simple,
Skill
you should:
- Make a point
Relevant point that answers the question - Support with a
Evidence: relevant quote that is embedded (not too long) quote
Explain the quote in terms of your point and the question
Analyse a technique that has been used (if there is one)
- Comment on
OR how the writer
Analyse language: choose an interesting word and achieves his/her
discuss the connotations effects
Extension: Link back to the question/keywords at the end
of your paragraph (PQC)
Points may relate to overarching

messages/themes of the poem.
Example Analysis
● Stevenson makes use of medical jargon to create an almost scientifically
detailed description of the newborn baby. She uses phrases such as “fine
meshings of ganglia and vertebrae” to emphasise the complexity of the baby,
using anatomical words that the average reader may not fully understand. This
conveys a sense of amazement in the reader, as they realise that they will
never be able to fully comprehend the complexity of the child.
● (Possible secondary point within the same quotation)
● The use of the word “fine” has two meanings, emphasising that while the baby
is small, the workmanship is of a very high quality. This also relates to the
extended metaphor of the baby’s body as a perfect, well-oiled machine.
What to focus on in essays:
1. Language: This includes word choices, connotations,
2. Structure: How rhyme scheme, stanzas, enjambement, caesura, and
other elements of structure contribute to meaning.
3. Form: relating to type of poem, stanzas, voice.
4. Sounds: Alliteration, assonance and consonance.
5. Poetic devices
It is important that you choose quotations in which you can comment on

these elements. It is not enough to just quote and then explain what that
quote is saying. You need to be able to explain HOW the writer ACHIEVES
his/her EFFECTS, and it is usually through one of the above.
It is also advisable to try be balanced. Discuss elements of Form,

Structure and Language in your essay.
Conclusions
● Do not spend a lot of time on your conclusion.
● In fact, if you are running low on time, do not worry about the
conclusion.
● You can simply mention the overall intention or message of the
poem, if related to the question.
● You can also refer to something you learned from the poem or
how it may have shifted your perspective on something
● It can be chance to show your PERSONAL response to the poem.
Using Quotations Effectively.
1. Embed.
The writer uses a metaphor in the phrase “the
spirit is too blunt an instrument”
2. Keep it short and sweet. Do not quote more
than a line at once.
3. Ensure it is relevant to your point.
Mistakes to avoid
1. Not punctuating the title of the poem.
Titles of poems should be underlined or
placed in quotation marks.
2. Mis-gendering the poet or getting their
name wrong. Also refer to them by full
names or surnames. NO FIRST NAMES.
3. Keep it very formal. No slang or
idiomatic expression. No contractions
should be used.
4. Writing too little. Aim for at least 2
pages.
Poet vs Speaker
You cannot assume that the ideas in
the poem are those of the poet. Be
careful how you use the terms ‘poet’
and ‘speaker’. The poet uses the
techniques and makes the choices, but
the speaker has the ‘voice’ and is the
‘character’, per say, in the poem.

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Poetry Essay Writing Skills

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Writing a

Introductions 1. Contextualise. Answer the overall

● Note: You do not need to list every aspect that you

Points may relate to overarching

It is important that you choose quotations in which you can comment on

It is also advisable to try be balanced. Discuss elements of Form,

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