how to put a poem title in an essay

Poetry Explained

How to Write a Poetry Essay (Complete Guide)

Unlock success in poetry essays with our comprehensive guide. Uncover the process to help aid understanding of how best to create a poetry essay.

While many of us read poetry for pleasure, it is undeniable that many poetry readers do so in the knowledge that they will be assessed on the text they are reading, either in an exam, for homework, or for a piece of coursework. This is clearly a daunting task for many, and lots of students don’t even know where to begin. We’re here to help! This guide will take you through all the necessary steps so that you can plan and write great poetry essays every time. If you’re still getting to grips with the different techniques, terms, or some other aspect of poetry, then check out our other available resources at the bottom of this page.

This Guide was Created by Joe Samantaria

Degree in English and Related Literature, and a Masters in Irish Literature

Upon completion of his degrees, Joe is an English tutor and counts W.B. Yeats , Emily Brontë , and Federico Garcia Lorca among his favorite poets. He has helped tutor hundreds of students with poetry and aims to do the same for readers and Poetry + users on Poem Analysis.

How to Write a Poetry Essay

• 1 Before You Start…
• 2 Introductions
• 3 Main Paragraphs
• 4 Conclusions
• 6 Other Resources

Before You Start…

Before we begin, we must address the fact that all poetry essays are different from one another on account of different academic levels, whether or not the essay pertains to one poem or multiple, and the intended length of the essay. That is before we even contend with the countless variations and distinctions between individual poems. Thus, it is impossible to produce a single, one-size-fits-all template for writing great essays on poetry because the criteria for such an essay are not universal. This guide is, therefore, designed to help you go about writing a simple essay on a single poem, which comes to roughly 1000-1200 words in length. We have designed it this way to mirror the requirements of as many students around the world as possible. It is our intention to write another guide on how to write a comparative poetry essay at a later date. Finally, we would like to stress the fact that this guide is exactly that: a guide. It is not a set of restrictive rules but rather a means of helping you get to grips with writing poetry essays. Think of it more like a recipe that, once practiced a few times, can be modified and adapted as you see fit.

The first and most obvious starting point is the poem itself and there are some important things to do at this stage before you even begin contemplating writing your essay. Naturally, these things will depend on the nature of the essay you are required to write.

• Is the poem one you are familiar with?
• Do you know anything about the context of the poem or the poet?
• How much time do you have to complete the essay?
• Do you have access to books or the internet?

These questions matter because they will determine the type, length, and scope of the essay you write. Naturally, an essay written under timed conditions about an unfamiliar poem will look very different from one written about a poem known to you. Likewise, teachers and examiners will expect different things from these essays and will mark them accordingly.

As this article pertains to writing a poverty essay, we’re going to assume you have a grasp of the basics of understanding the poems themselves. There is a plethora of materials available that can help you analyze poetry if you need to, and thousands of analyzed poems are available right here. For the sake of clarity, we advise you to use these tools to help you get to grips with the poem you intend to write about before you ever sit down to actually produce an essay. As we have said, the amount of time spent pondering the poem will depend on the context of the essay. If you are writing a coursework-style question over many weeks, then you should spend hours analyzing the poem and reading extensively about its context. If, however, you are writing an essay in an exam on a poem you have never seen before, you should perhaps take 10-15% of the allotted time analyzing the poem before you start writing.

The Question

Once you have spent enough time analyzing the poem and identifying its key features and themes, you can turn your attention to the question. It is highly unlikely that you will simply be asked to “analyze this poem.” That would be too simple on the one hand and far too broad on the other.

More likely, you will be asked to analyze a particular aspect of the poem, usually pertaining to its message, themes, or meaning. There are numerous ways examiners can express these questions, so we have outlined some common types of questions below.

• Explore the poet’s presentation of…
• How does the poet present…
• Explore the ways the writer portrays their thoughts about…

These are all similar ways of achieving the same result. In each case, the examiner requires that you analyze the devices used by the poet and attempt to tie the effect those devices have to the poet’s broader intentions or meaning.

Some students prefer reading the question before they read the poem, so they can better focus their analytical eye on devices and features that directly relate to the question they are being asked. This approach has its merits, especially for poems that you have not previously seen. However, be wary of focusing too much on a single element of a poem, particularly if it is one you may be asked to write about again in a later exam. It is no good knowing only how a poem links to the theme of revenge if you will later be asked to explore its presentation of time.

Essay plans can help focus students’ attention when they’re under pressure and give them a degree of confidence while they’re writing. In basic terms, a plan needs the following elements:

• An overarching answer to the question (this will form the basis of your introduction)
• A series of specific, identifiable poetic devices ( metaphors , caesura , juxtaposition , etc) you have found in the poem
• Ideas about how these devices link to the poem’s messages or themes.
• Some pieces of relevant context (depending on whether you need it for your type of question)

In terms of layout, we do not want to be too prescriptive. Some students prefer to bullet-point their ideas, and others like to separate them by paragraph. If you use the latter approach, you should aim for:

• 1 Introduction
• 4-5 Main paragraphs
• 1 Conclusion

Finally, the length and detail of your plan should be dictated by the nature of the essay you are doing. If you are under exam conditions, you should not spend too much time writing a plan, as you will need that time for the essay itself. Conversely, if you are not under time pressure, you should take your time to really build out your plan and fill in the details.

Introductions

If you have followed all the steps to this point, you should be ready to start writing your essay. All good essays begin with an introduction, so that is where we shall start.

When it comes to introductions, the clue is in the name: this is the place for you to introduce your ideas and answer the question in broad terms. This means that you don’t need to go into too much detail, as you’ll be doing that in the main body of the essay. That means you don’t need quotes, and you’re unlikely to need to quote anything from the poem yet. One thing to remember is that you should mention both the poet’s name and the poem’s title in your introduction. This might seem unnecessary, but it is a good habit to get into, especially if you are writing an essay in which other questions/poems are available to choose from.

As we mentioned earlier, you are unlikely to get a question that simply asks you to analyze a poem in its entirety, with no specific angle. More likely, you’ll be asked to write an essay about a particular thematic element of the poem. Your introduction should reflect this. However, many students fall into the trap of simply regurgitating the question without offering anything more. For example, a question might ask you to explore a poet’s presentation of love, memory, loss, or conflict . You should avoid the temptation to simply hand these terms back in your introduction without expanding upon them. You will get a chance to see this in action below.

Let’s say we were given the following question:

Explore Patrick Kavanagh’s presentation of loss and memory in Memory of My Father

Taking on board the earlier advice, you should hopefully produce an introduction similar to the one written below.

Patrick Kavanagh presents loss as an inescapable fact of existence and subverts the readers’ expectations of memory by implying that memories can cause immense pain, even if they feature loved ones. This essay will argue that Memory of My Father depicts loss to be cyclical and thus emphasizes the difficulties that inevitably occur in the early stages of grief.

As you can see, the introduction is fairly condensed and does not attempt to analyze any specific poetic elements. There will be plenty of time for that as the essay progresses. Similarly, the introduction does not simply repeat the words ‘loss’ and ‘memory’ from the question but expands upon them and offers a glimpse of the kind of interpretation that will follow without providing too much unnecessary detail at this early stage.

Main Paragraphs

Now, we come to the main body of the essay, the quality of which will ultimately determine the strength of our essay. This section should comprise of 4-5 paragraphs, and each of these should analyze an aspect of the poem and then link the effect that aspect creates to the poem’s themes or message. They can also draw upon context when relevant if that is a required component of your particular essay.

There are a few things to consider when writing analytical paragraphs and many different templates for doing so, some of which are listed below.

• PEE (Point-Evidence-Explain)
• PEA (Point-Evidence-Analysis)
• PETAL (Point-Evidence-Technique-Analysis-Link)
• IQA (Identify-Quote-Analyze)
• PEEL (Point-Evidence-Explain-Link)

Some of these may be familiar to you, and they all have their merits. As you can see, there are all effective variations of the same thing. Some might use different terms or change the order, but it is possible to write great paragraphs using all of them.

One of the most important aspects of writing these kind of paragraphs is selecting the features you will be identifying and analyzing. A full list of poetic features with explanations can be found here. If you have done your plan correctly, you should have already identified a series of poetic devices and begun to think about how they link to the poem’s themes.

It is important to remember that, when analyzing poetry, everything is fair game! You can analyze the language, structure, shape, and punctuation of the poem. Try not to rely too heavily on any single type of paragraph. For instance, if you have written three paragraphs about linguistic features ( similes , hyperbole , alliteration , etc), then try to write your next one about a structural device ( rhyme scheme , enjambment , meter , etc).

Regardless of what structure you are using, you should remember that multiple interpretations are not only acceptable but actively encouraged. Techniques can create effects that link to the poem’s message or themes in both complementary and entirely contrasting ways. All these possibilities should find their way into your essay. You are not writing a legal argument that must be utterly watertight – you are interpreting a subjective piece of art.

It is important to provide evidence for your points in the form of either a direct quotation or, when appropriate, a reference to specific lines or stanzas . For instance, if you are analyzing a strict rhyme scheme, you do not need to quote every rhyming word. Instead, you can simply name the rhyme scheme as, for example, AABB , and then specify whether or not this rhyme scheme is applied consistently throughout the poem or not. When you are quoting a section from the poem, you should endeavor to embed your quotation within your line so that your paragraph flows and can be read without cause for confusion.

When it comes to context, remember to check whether or not your essay question requires it before you begin writing. If you do need to use it, you must remember that it is used to elevate your analysis of the poem, not replace it. Think of context like condiments or spices. When used appropriately, they can enhance the experience of eating a meal, but you would have every right to complain if a restaurant served you a bowl of ketchup in lieu of an actual meal. Moreover, you should remember to only use the contextual information that helps your interpretation rather than simply writing down facts to prove you have memorized them. Examiners will not be impressed that you know the date a particular poet was born or died unless that information relates to the poem itself.

For the sake of ease, let’s return to our earlier question:

Have a look at the example paragraph below, taking note of the ways in which it interprets the linguistic technique in several different ways.

Kavanagh uses a metaphor when describing how the narrator ’s father had “fallen in love with death” in order to capture the narrator’s conflicted attitudes towards his loss. By conflating the ordinarily juxtaposed states of love and death, Kavanagh implies the narrator’s loss has shattered his previously held understanding of the world and left him confused. Similarly, the metaphor could suggest the narrator feels a degree of jealousy, possibly even self-loathing, because their father embraced death willingly rather than remaining with the living. Ultimately, the metaphor’s innate impossibility speaks to the narrator’s desire to rationalize their loss because the reality, that his father simply died, is too painful for him to bear.

As you can see, the paragraph clearly engages with a poetic device and uses an appropriately embedded quotation. The subsequent interpretations are then varied enough to avoid repeating each other, but all clearly link to the theme of loss that was mentioned in the question. Obviously, this is only one analytical paragraph, but a completed essay should contain 4-5. This would allow the writer to analyze enough different devices and link them to both themes mentioned in the question.

Conclusions

By this stage, you should have written the bulk of your essay in the form of your introduction and 4-5 main analytical paragraphs. If you have done those things properly, then the conclusion should largely take care of itself.

The world’s simplest essay plan sounds something like this:

• Tell them what you’re going to tell them
• Tell them what you’ve told them

This is, naturally, an oversimplification, but it is worth bearing in mind. The conclusion to an essay is not the place to introduce your final, groundbreaking interpretation. Nor is it the place to reveal a hitherto unknown piece of contextual information that shatters any prior critical consensus with regard to the poem you are writing about. If you do either of these things, the examiner will be asking themselves one simple question: why didn’t they write this earlier?

In its most simple form, a conclusion is there, to sum up the points you have made and nothing more.

As with the previous sections, there is a little more to a great conclusion than merely stating the things you have already made. The trick to a great conclusion is to bind those points together to emphasize the essay’s overarching thread or central argument. This is a subtle skill, but mastering it will really help you to finish your essays with a flourish by making your points feel like they are more than the sum of their parts.

Finally, let’s remind ourselves of the hypothetical essay question we’ve been using:

Remember that, just like your introduction, your conclusion should be brief and direct and must not attempt to do more than it needs to.

In conclusion, Kavanagh’s poem utilizes numerous techniques to capture the ways in which loss is both inescapable and a source of enormous pain. Moreover, the poet subverts positive memories by showcasing how they can cause loved ones more pain than comfort in the early stages of grief. Ultimately, the poem demonstrates how malleable memory can be in the face of immense loss due to the way the latter shapes and informs the former.

As you can see, this conclusion is confident and authoritative but does not need to provide evidence to justify this tone because that evidence has already been provided earlier in the essay. You should pay close attention to the manner in which the conclusion links different points together under one banner in order to provide a sense of assuredness.

You should refer to the poet by either using their full name or, more commonly, their surname. After your first usage, you may refer to them as ‘the poet.’ Never refer to the poet using just their first name.

This is a good question, and the answer entirely depends on the level of study as well as the nature of the examination. If you are writing a timed essay for a school exam, you are unlikely to need any form of referencing. If, however, you are writing an essay as part of coursework or at a higher education institution, you may need to refer to the specific guidelines of that institution.

Again, this will depend on the type of essay you are being asked to write. If you are writing a longer essay or writing at a higher educational level, it can be useful to refer to other poems in the writer’s repertoire to help make comments on an aspect of the poem you are primarily writing about. However, for the kind of essay outlined in this article, you should focus solely on the poem you have been asked to write about.

This is one of the most common concerns students have about writing essays . Ultimately, the quality of an essay is more likely to be determined by the quality of paragraphs than the quantity anyway, so you should focus on making your paragraphs as good as they can be. Beyond this, it is important to remember that the time required to write a paragraph is not fixed. The more you write, the faster they will become. You should trust the process, focus on making each paragraph as good as it can be, and you’ll be amazed at how the timing issue takes care of itself.

Other Resources

We hope you have found this article useful and would love for you to comment or reach out to us if you have any queries about what we’ve written. We’d love to hear your feedback!

In the meantime, we’ve collated a list of resources you might find helpful when setting out to tackle a poetry essay, which you can find below.

• Do poems have to rhyme?
• 10 important elements of poetry
• How to analyze a poem with SMILE
• How to approach unseen poetry
• 18 Different Types of Themes in Poetry

Home » Poetry Explained » How to Write a Poetry Essay (Complete Guide)

About Joe Santamaria

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Santamaria, Joe. "How to Write a Poetry Essay (Complete Guide)". Poem Analysis , https://poemanalysis.com/how-to-write-a-poetry-essay/ . Accessed 6 August 2024.

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How to write a poetry essay

• August 26, 2023

Whether you love literature or are just curious, this guide will help you understand, enjoy, and talk about poetry. So, let’s start exploring the world of lines and symbols, where each one tells a story to discover.

Here are the steps on writing a poetry essay.

Choose a poem

The first step is, of course, to choose a poem to write your essay . 

It should be one that you find interesting, thought-provoking, or emotionally resonant. It’s important to select a poem that you can engage with and analyze effectively.

• Choose a poem that genuinely captures your interest. Look for poems that evoke emotions, thoughts, or curiosity when you read them.
• Consider the themes addressed in the poem. It should offer ample material for analysis.

When choosing a poem

So for this guide, let’s choose Emily Dickinson’s poem “Because I could not stop for Death.” You’ll see a short excerpt of this poem for your understanding. 

Poem example for poetry essay

Because i couldn not stop for Death by Emily Dickinson

       Because I could not stop for Death –        He kindly stopped for me –        The Carriage held but just Ourselves –        And Immortality.        We slowly drove – He knew no haste        And I had put away        My labor and my leisure too,        For His Civility –        We passed the School, where Children strove        At Recess – in the Ring –        We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –        We passed the Setting Sun –        The poem continues....

This poem is intriguing due to its exploration of mortality, the afterlife, and eternity. The imagery and language in the poem provide ample material for analysis, making it a suitable choice for a comprehensive essay.

After carefully choosing the poem that interests you, understanding the poem is the biggest key to writing an effective and nice poetry essay.

Understand the poem

Reading the poem several times to grasp its meaning is the most important part of a good analysis. You must first analyze the structure, rhyme scheme , meter and literary tools used in the poem.

For a solid understanding, you should:

• Read the poem multiple times to familiarize yourself with its content. Each reading may reveal new insights.
• Identify the central themes or messages the poem conveys.
• Study the rhyme scheme and meter (rhythmic pattern) of the poem.
• Consider how the structure, including its stanzas, lines, and breaks, contributes to the poem's meaning and impact.

For example

Remember, understanding the poem thoroughly is the foundation for a well-informed analysis. Take your time to grasp the poem’s various elements before moving on to the next steps in your essay.

Now that we have a clear understanding of the poem, let’s move into writing the introduction. 

Write a catchy introduction

• Begin with an attention-grabbing hook sentence that piques the reader's interest.
• Provide the necessary information about the poem and its author. Mention the poet's name and title of the poem.
• Offer some context about the poem's time period, literary movement, or cultural influences.
• Present your thesis statement , which outlines the main argument or focus of your essay.

Poetry essay introduction example

Introduction

Thesis statement for poetry essays

A thesis statement is a clear and concise sentence or two that presents the main argument or point of your essay . It provides a roadmap for your reader, outlining what they can expect to find in your essay.

In the case of a poetry essay, your thesis statement should capture the central message, themes, or techniques you’ll be discussing in relation to the poem.

Why is the thesis important for a poetry essay?

By reading your thesis statement, your audience should have a clear idea of what to expect from your poem analysis essay.

When creating a thesis statement, keep these in mind: 

• Start by identifying the key elements of the poem that you want to discuss. These could be themes, literary devices, emotions conveyed, or the poet's intentions.
• Based on the key elements you've identified, formulate a central argument that encapsulates your main analysis. What is the poem trying to convey? What are you trying to say about the poem?
• Your thesis should be specific and focused. Avoid vague or broad statements. Instead, provide a clear direction for your analysis.

Poetry essasy thesis statement example

....(introduction starts) ....(introduction continues) ....(introduction continues) In "Because I could not stop for Death," Emily Dickinson employs vivid imagery, personification, and an unconventional perspective on mortality to explore the transcendence of death and the eternity of the soul. Thesis statement, which is usually the last sentence of your introduction

Analyze language and imagery

Language and image analysis in poetry involves a close examination of the words, phrases and literary devices used by the poet. In this step you must uncover the deeper layers of meaning, emotion and sensory experiences conveyed by the poet’s choice of language and imagery.

Why language and imagery?

• Start by identifying and listing the literary devices present in the poem. These could include metaphors, similes, personification, symbolism, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and more.
• For each identified device, explain its significance. How does it contribute to the poem's meaning, mood, or tone?
• Analyze how the literary devices interact with the context of the poem. How do they relate to the themes, characters, or situations presented in the poem?
• Discuss how the use of specific language and imagery influences the reader's emotional response and understanding of the poem.

Continuing with Emily Dickinson’s “Because I could not stop for Death,” let’s analyze the use of imagery:

Language and imagery analysis example

Lines chosen for analysis

Discuss themes in body paragraphs

Exploring themes helps you grasp the deeper meaning of the poem and connect it to broader human experiences. Understanding the themes allows you to uncover what the poet is attempting to convey and how the poem relates to readers on a universal level.

In this step, you will likely dedicate multiple body paragraphs to the analysis of various aspects of language and imagery. Each body paragraph should focus on a specific literary device, phrase, or aspect of language and imagery.

Here’s how you can structure the body paragraphs.

Poetry essay body paragraphs example

Body Paragraph 1: Identify and Explain Literary Devices

Body Paragraph 2: Context and Interaction with Themes

Body Paragraph 3: Reader's emotional response and understanding

Provide evidence from the poem

Providing evidence involves quoting specific lines or stanzas from the poem to support the points you’re making in your analysis. These quotes serve as concrete examples that demonstrate how the poet uses language, imagery, or literary devices to convey specific meanings or emotions.

• Select lines or stanzas from the poem that directly relate to the point you're making in your analysis.
• Introduce each quote with context, explaining the significance of the lines and how they contribute to your analysis.
• Use quotation marks to indicate that you're using the poet's language.
• After providing the quote, interpret its meaning. Explain how the language, imagery, or devices used in the quoted lines contribute to your analysis.

Providing evidence example

In your essay, you should include several quotes and interpret them to reinforce your points. Quoting specific lines from the poem allows you to showcase the poet’s language while demonstrating how these lines contribute to the poem’s overall expression.

Write a conclusion

Conclusion paragraph is the last sentence of your poem analysis essay. It reinforces your thesis statement and emphasizes your insights.

Additionally, the conclusion offers a chance to provide a final thought that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. In your conclusion, make sure to:

• Start by rephrasing your thesis statement. Remind the reader of the main argument you've made in your essay.
• Provide a concise summary of the main points. Avoid introducing new information; focus on the key ideas.
• Discuss the broader significance or implications. How does the poem's message relate to readers beyond its specific context?
• End with a thoughtful reflection, observation, or question that leaves the reader with something to ponder.

Poetry essay conclusion example

In your essay, the conclusion serves as a final opportunity to leave a strong impression on the reader by summarizing your analysis and offering insights into the poem’s broader significance.

Now, it’s time to double check what you’ve written.

Proofread and revise your essay

Edit your essay for clarity, coherence, tense selection , correct headings , etc. Ensure that your ideas flow logically and your analysis is well-supported. Remember, a poetry essay is an opportunity to delve into the nuances of a poem’s language, themes, and emotions.

• Review each paragraph to ensure ideas flow logically from one to the next.
• Check for grammar and punctuation errors.
• Verify that your evidence from the poem is accurately quoted and explained.
• Make sure your language is clear and effectively conveys your analysis.

By proofreading and revising, you can refine your essay, improving its readability and ensuring that your insights are communicated accurately.

So this was the last part, you’re now ready to write your first poem analysis (poetry) essay. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What should i include in the introduction of a poetry essay.

In the introduction, provide background information about the poem and poet. Include the poem’s title, publication date, and any relevant context that helps readers understand its significance.

Can I include my emotional responses in a poetry essay?

Yes, you can discuss your emotional responses, but ensure they are supported by your analysis of the poem’s literary elements. Avoid focusing solely on personal feelings.

Is it important to understand the poet's background when writing a poetry essay?

While it can provide context, your focus should be on analyzing the poem itself. If the poet’s background is relevant to the poem’s interpretation, mention it briefly.

What's the best way to conclude a poetry essay?

In the conclusion, summarize your main points and tie them together. Offer insights into the poem’s broader significance, implications, or lasting impact.

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How to Write Poem Titles

Last Updated: January 12, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Alicia Cook . Alicia Cook is a Professional Writer based in Newark, New Jersey. With over 12 years of experience, Alicia specializes in poetry and uses her platform to advocate for families affected by addiction and to fight for breaking the stigma against addiction and mental illness. She holds a BA in English and Journalism from Georgian Court University and an MBA from Saint Peter’s University. Alicia is a bestselling poet with Andrews McMeel Publishing and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets including the NY Post, CNN, USA Today, the HuffPost, the LA Times, American Songwriter Magazine, and Bustle. She was named by Teen Vogue as one of the 10 social media poets to know and her poetry mixtape, “Stuff I’ve Been Feeling Lately” was a finalist in the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 95,254 times.

You've written a poem , congratulations! Now, you just need to think of a good title that will pique the reader’s interest and set them up for what to expect. Using keywords and details from your poem can help you craft a strong title. You can also refer to the poem’s tone and context to come up with the title that will engage readers. Once you create a title, format it properly to polish off your poem.

Using Keywords and Details in the Poem

• For example, you may choose keywords like “good” and “sister,” creating a title like “The Good Sister” or “Be good, Sister.”

• For example, you may use a synonym for “good” to create a title like, “The Excellent Sister” or “My Precious Sister.”

• For example, if your poem focuses on a girl named Eva and her pet swan, you may use a title like “Eva and the Swan.” If your poem is about a Denny’s in your hometown of Sturgis, you may use a title like “Denny’s in Sturgis” or “Denny’s, Sturgis.”

• For example, you may choose a verb like “beating” and create a title like, “Beating” or “I Beat.” Or you may pick adjectives like “blue,” “dying,” and “stunning” to create a title like, “Dying Blue” or “Stunning Blue.”

• For example, you may take a repeating line like “she jumped high in track and field” to create a title like “High in Track and Field” or “She Jumped.”

• Avoid picking an image that might give away the crux or turn in the poem. The image should provide some context for the reader but not give any revelations in the poem away.
• For example, you may use an image of a woman leaping over hurdle on the field, red dirt flying in her wake in the poem, and create a title like, “Red Dirt Flys” or “Woman Leaps.”

• For example, if you have a last line like, “She ran off the field, in victory,” you may create a title like, “In Victory.”

Referring to the Poem’s Tone and Context

• For example, if the poem is a playful tale about a little girl named Eva and her pet swan, you may use a title like, “Eva’s Pet Swan” or “Eva’s Friend, a Swan.”
• If the poem is a dark tale about Eva’s difficult relationship with her pet swan, you may use a title like, “The Problem of the Swan” or simply, “Eva and the Swan.”

• For example, you may use a title like, “Monday at the Corner Cafe” or “4:44.”

• For example, if you used a newspaper photo, you may refer to the subject in the photo in the title of the poem. Or if you referred to a recent family dinner you went to to create the poem, you may use a title like, “Sunday Dinner” or “At the Dinner Table.”

• For example, if you wrote a sonnet about your dog, you may use a title like “Sonnet About My Dog.” Or if you wrote a sestina about your best friend, you may use a title like, “Best Friend: Sestina.”

Formatting the Title

• For example, rather than use a title like, “The Time I Had a Good Dinner on Sundays,” you may cut it down to, “Good Sunday Dinner,” or “The Good Dinner on Sundays.”
• In some cases, a longer title may be appropriate if you feel it strongly encapsulates the poem or has a good ring to it.

• For example, you would format a title as: “The Love Song of J.Alfred Prufrock” or “At the Dinner Table.”

• You may also want to change the title if someone else has already used it so your poem can stand out on its own and not be considered for someone else’s work.

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Alicia Cook. Professional Writer. Expert Interview. 11 December 2020.
• ↑ https://annieneugebauer.com/2014/04/21/titling-poems/
• ↑ https://writersrelief.com/blog/2013/08/great-title-for-your-book-or-story-or-poem/
• ↑ https://www.wccnet.edu/learn/departments/engd/writing-center/_documents/punctuation/titles-of-works.pdf

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Passing Through

Poetry blog.

How to Write Poem Titles: The Ultimate Guide

Do you find yourself stuck when it comes to titling your poems? You're not alone. It can be challenging to come up with the perfect title that accurately represents your poem and grabs your reader's interest. In this post, I will go over everything you need to know to write a poem title that does both things.

Why Is Coming Up With a Poem's Title So Difficult?

If you're like me, you write your poem first and say: voila, poem written ! And then you go, oh yeah, the title. Title, title, tile...

Writing a title for your poem can be difficult. Writing the title seems more like a chore than part of the joy of writing your poem. The title can seem to exist outside the world of your poem, so it's easy to get bogged down thinking about what on earth it should be.

But I'd encourage you to not think of the title as existing outside of your poem—the title is just as much a part of the poem as the body . If you can reframe your thinking to consider the title as part of the poem's universe, it can become easier to write.

Let's take a look at what a great poem title achieves by studying some on-point poem titles.

In the examples below, the titles of the poems will appear in bold text.

What Does a Great Title for a Poem Accomplish?

Sometimes, it seems like the title is an afterthought or an advertisement to get people to read the poem. But this isn't so.

A good title is just as much a part of the poem as the poem itself.

A good poem title can accomplish many things:

Make us curious about the poem

Lead us into the poem

Provide orientation (place, time)

Make us think twice

Provide context (what is this really about?)

#1 A Great Title Leads Us Into the Poem

One method of writing a good poem title is to use the title to serve as the first line of the poem. To use this method, the entire title should both serve as the first line of the poem and give an overall idea o f what the poem is about.

Take the below example by poet Barbara Crooker. An excerpt of the poem appears below.

And Now It’s September,

and the garden diminishes: cucumber leaves rumpled

and rusty, zucchini felled by borers, tomatoes sparse

on the vines. But out in the perennial beds, there’s one last

blast of color: ignitions of goldenrod, flamboyant

asters, spiraling mums, all those flashy spikes waving

in the wind, conducting summer’s final notes.

As you can see, the title of the poem also serves as the first line of the poem. It even has a comma at the end of the line to emphasize that fact! But it also makes an excellent title because it encapsulates what the poem is about.

It lets the reader know this poem will be about the beginning of September, the beginning of fall, and the changing of the seasons. It's genius in its simplicity!

#2 A Great Poem Title Provides Orientation

Another method for writing a poem title is to come up with a title that lets us know where we are in time and space. Take the example below.

"Awakening in New York" was published in 1983 in the great poet Maya Angelou's collection Shaker, Why Don't You Sing . This a short poem, so the entire text is shown below.

Let's see how Ms. Angelou uses the poem title to bring context to her writing.

Awaking in New York

Curtains forcing their will

against the wind,

children sleep,

exchanging dreams with

seraphim. The city

drags itself awake on

subway straps; and

I, an alarm, awake as a

rumor of war,

lie stretching into dawn,

unasked and unheeded.

Here, the title serves as a reference point— it lets the reader know where we are and what this poem is about . The title is simple, but the words are poetic and tell a story.

If we were to read the poem without reading the title, we may enjoy it, but we may be left a little curious as to where we are and what's happening.

The title "Awakening in New York" informs us that this is about someone waking up in New York and the city itself awakening. Also, the word "awakening" has multiple meanings. It can mean to literally "wake up" but it can also mean to realize something , or it can mean a change is occurring .

"Awakening in New York" gives us many roads to travel as we consider the poem's meaning.

#3 Great Poem Titles Makes Us Think Twice About a Poem

A writer can use the title to give a whole different context to the poem that wouldn't exist without the title. These are some of my favorite types of titles. They are akin to a plot twist.

Read the short poem below by Langston Hughes.

Cool face of the river

Asked me for a kiss.

What are your impressions? To me, it sounds like a serene moment. It personifies the river, having it ask the writer for a kiss.

What a sweet love song to nature, don't you think? Well, maybe things aren't always as they seem...let's look at it again with the title.

Suicide's Note

Okay, now we are thinking twice about that sweet ode to the river! The author's title turns this individual story from a few lines about a river into a haunting story about the contemplation of suicide.

What I find interesting about this poem and its title is that the writer never takes responsibility for the suicidal thoughts. The river asks him to dive in head first, he's not thinking about it. The note belongs to suicide, not to the writer.

By personifying these elements, the poet achieves a certain distance from a terrible thought.

#4 A Great Poem Title Makes the Reader Curious

If you want to grab a reader's attention and make them read your poem, your title should pique curiosity and get people wanting to find out more.

Take the poem title "Small Poems for Big" by Chinaka Hodge.

Small Poems for Big? What is that all about? Who is Big? How small are these poems? How many are there?

See how this title gets us asking questions?

Now let's look at an excerpt.

Small Poems for Big

BY CHINAKA HODGE

Twenty-four haiku, for each year he lived

when you die, i’m told

they only use given names

christopher wallace

no notorious

neither b.i.g. nor smalls

just voletta’s son

Okay! From the first two stanzas, the reader sees that the "Big" referred to in the title is none other than the Notorious B.I.G., Biggy Smalls, aka the late rapper, Christopher Wallace.

Again, another simple title that accomplishes so much . I love it.

What About Great Poems That Have Simple Poem Titles?

Now that we've discussed what a great poem title might do and looked at some examples, let's talk about the elephant in the room.

That is, there are thousands of amazing poems by some of the greatest poets in all of literature that have very simple titles . The title is often either a repetition of a phrase or word that appears in the poem (for example Audre Lorde's "Afterimages") or, the title just labels the form of the poem (for example, William Shakespeare's "Sonnet 2").

If you're reading this post, likely, you have not yet become a master poet. I certainly haven't. So, until you are a master poet, all your poems should begin with creative titles that can stand on their own and draw attention.

Until you are a master poet, all your poems should begin with creative titles that can stand on their own and draw attention.

My Process for Writing Poem Titles

I'd like to share the process of coming up with poem titles for my chapbook White Noise Crucible ( published in 2022 by Bottlecap Press).

Most of the poems in my chapbook were originally shared on my Instagram without titles. When I was compiling them as a chapbook, I at first decided to leave them without titles. Let them speak for themselves , I thought.

When it was time to submit my final manuscript to the publisher, that is when I decided they should have titles, if only for a table of contents!

Below is the first poem in the chapbook, now titled "passing through." I would label this title under the makes us think twice category of titles. Let's read the poem first.

passing through

photons penetrate

fill me with light

everything blooms

The title phrase, "passing through", has a couple of meanings in this poem. It can refer to the "photons penetrate" line, which is about light particles passing through our bodies. Or it can refer to the ephemeral nature of life and how we are just visitors passing through it.

In that sense, I wanted to get people to think twice about the poem. Let's look at one more.

This next poem title is an example of providing additional context to the poem. The poem's title is "it's a reference to DNA." The title is meant to spell things out and help the reader understand the poem better, as it contains scientific references not everyone may immediately get.

it’s a reference to DNA

magic had me dazzled

in a fated well

blackness boomeranged into me

no drag on the fletching of time’s arrow

to understand

what i had yet to learn

it is this:

eons are enemies

a crucible of time, mutation, selection,

meiosis, mitosis—

a G where a C should have settled

an A where a T should have been

Without the title of the poem below, I realized many people would not understand what this poem is about unless they can remember back to high school biology. The letters in the last stanza G, A, C,  and T  refer to the nucleotides that comprise DNA. The fact that they are mixed up in the poem means something has gone wrong and a mutation has occurred.

Side note: A reader once asked me if I worked in the medical field. They noted that my poetry contained a lot of scientific language. I hadn't considered this before and thought it was an interesting observation. I do not work in the medical field, but I did major in psychology and find our biological nature to be very poetic. So that's perhaps where my use of scientific language in poetry comes from.

How to Write a Poem Title

If you're trying to write a good poem title and are having trouble, don't get discouraged. You just need to put some thought and care into it. I recommend looking at examples of poems from your favorite poets to gain inspiration if you are feeling stuck.

Remember the best titles for poems :

Exercise: Brainstorm 3-5 titles for your poem. It's good to see where your creativity can lead you. Then choose the best one!

Try using different methods from the list above. Avoid simply repeating a word or phrase that occurs in your poem. Make the title a part of your poem just as much as the rest. And make sure it's going to grab the reader's attention so that they'll move beyond the title and continue reading.

Best of luck in writing your titles. If you want to chat more about writing poem titles, DM me on Instagram @elysehartpoetry .

If you found this post useful, subscribe to the Passing Through poetry blog using the form below to never miss a post. To support my poetry, please consider buying a book from my shop.

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Key Elements

• "Poem Title" (in quotes)
• Book Title  (italicized)
• City of publication
• Publication year
• Page number(s)

Anthology or Collection (5.5.6)

Cite the poet first. If you cite more than one poem from the same collection, create a citation for each poem.

Use the anthology format, but omit the editor.

Poem as a Book (p. 21)

Some long poems are published as a single book. Cite these like a regular book. 

E-book (p. 48)

After the publication year, include the database in italics and then the permanent link to the book.

Poem Online (p. 48)

Put quotes around the title of the poem and italicize the Web site.

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Essay Papers Writing Online

A comprehensive guide to writing a poem analysis essay.

Delving into the intricate world of poetry analysis can be a rewarding and enlightening experience. A poem analysis essay allows you to explore the nuances of a poem, dissect its themes, and uncover the hidden meanings within its verses. It offers a unique opportunity to delve into the poet’s mind and understand their perspective.

When crafting a poem analysis essay, it is essential to approach the task with a critical eye and an open mind. Careful attention to detail, a keen understanding of poetic devices, and a thoughtful analysis of the poem’s structure are key components of a successful essay. By following a systematic approach and employing effective writing techniques, you can create a compelling and insightful analysis that showcases your literary prowess.

In this article, we will provide you with valuable tips and strategies to help you craft a thought-provoking poem analysis essay. From conducting a thorough analysis of the poem to structuring your essay effectively, we will guide you through the process of analyzing a poem with skill and finesse. By mastering the art of poetry analysis, you can unlock the deeper layers of meaning hidden within the lines of a poem and gain a deeper appreciation for the art of poetry.

Understand the Poem’s Context

When analyzing a poem, it’s essential to understand the context in which it was written. Consider the historical, cultural, and social background that influenced the poet and the poem itself. Research the time period in which the poem was written, the poet’s biography, and any significant events or movements that may have impacted the poet’s work.

Furthermore, pay attention to the poet’s intentions and motivations for writing the poem. Understanding the context can provide valuable insights into the poem’s themes, symbols, and stylistic choices. By delving into the context, you can deepen your interpretation and appreciation of the poem’s meaning.

Analyze the Poem’s Structure

Examining the structure of a poem is crucial in understanding the poet’s intentions and the overall impact of the work. Consider the poem’s form, including the stanza structure, line length, and rhyme scheme. Look for patterns in the organization of the poem, such as repetition, enjambment, or other structural techniques. Pay attention to the rhythm and meter of the poem, as this can contribute to the tone and mood of the piece. By analyzing the structure of the poem, you can uncover deeper meanings and insights that may not be immediately apparent.

Identify Key Themes and Symbols

One important aspect of crafting a poem analysis essay is identifying the key themes and symbols within the poem. Themes are recurring ideas or messages that the poet conveys through the poem, while symbols are objects, characters, or elements that represent deeper meanings.

When analyzing a poem, pay attention to the themes that emerge as you read. Consider what the poet is trying to communicate about topics such as love, nature, life, or death. Look for recurring symbols or images that carry symbolic meaning, such as birds symbolizing freedom or light symbolizing hope.

By identifying the key themes and symbols in a poem, you can gain a deeper understanding of the poet’s message and the significance of the poem as a whole. This analysis can help you craft a thoughtful and insightful essay that explores the poem’s meaning in depth.

Discuss the Poem’s Tone and Mood

One key aspect to consider when analyzing a poem is its tone and mood. The tone of a poem refers to the attitude or feelings that the poet expresses towards the subject matter. It can be playful, serious, sarcastic, melancholic, or any other emotion that the poet conveys through the language and imagery used in the poem. On the other hand, the mood of a poem is the overall feeling or atmosphere that the poem evokes in the reader. The mood can be somber, joyful, contemplative, or any other emotional response that the reader experiences when reading the poem. To analyze the tone and mood of a poem, pay attention to the language, imagery, and metaphors used by the poet, as these elements can reveal the underlying emotions and attitudes that the poet is trying to convey.

Provide Evidence from the Text

When analyzing a poem, it is crucial to support your interpretations with evidence directly from the text. This evidence can include specific lines, phrases, or stanzas that illustrate the themes, imagery, or language used by the poet.

For example: If you are discussing the theme of love in a poem, quote lines where the poet describes emotions, interactions, or relationships to demonstrate how the theme is developed throughout the poem.

Remember: Providing textual evidence not only strengthens your analysis but also shows your deep engagement with the poem and your ability to support your interpretations with concrete examples.

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How to Insert a Poem Into an Essay

If you are writing essays about poetry or utilizing poems to illustrate a point in a research paper, you must cite poems in the correct form. There are many rules for citing poems, including the proper format for line breaks, line numbers and inserting a few stanzas or a longer passage. Learning the rules is simple and will ensure the technical aspect of the poem in the paper is well-executed.

Short Excerpts

To insert a poem segment composed of three lines or fewer into an essay, write an introductory statement that places the lines in context of the thesis, followed by a colon. Place the excerpt in the body of the essay. Use forward slashes to separate each line. Place numbers in parentheses at the end to cite the particular lines.

For example, a short excerpt from Edgar Allan Poe's "Annabel Lee" would appear as:

"And bore her away from me/ To shut her up in a sepulchre/ In this kingdom by the sea" (18-20).

Long Passages

Insert a longer poetry passage that includes four or more lines as a separate, indented section in an essay. Indent the excerpt 10 spaces from the left margin on each line. In this format, slashes are no longer necessary to separate lines.

An example of a passage from John Keats's "Ode on a Grecian Urn" follows:

In the body of an essay, ellipses indicate that a segment of a sentence is missing. This rule also applies to poetry excerpts. However, when you remove a section of text from the beginning of a poetry line, replace the missing section with a lengthy indention, rather than ellipses. If the missing words are in the center or end of the line, ellipses are necessary. When an entire line is omitted within the poetry passage, a line of ellipses replaces the missing line.

These rules are illustrated in the following passage from Sharon Olds's "Still Life in Landscape":

Single Words

If you cite more than one individual word from a poem to illustrate a point, include its line number from the poem in parentheses at the end.

For example, in Emily Dickenson's "Heaven has different signs -- to me," the words "hills" (6), "orchard" (9), "hills" (10) and "clouds" (12) demonstrate the significance of natural imagery in her poetry.

In a sentence that includes a single word poetry excerpt, include its line number in parenthesis at the end of the sentence, such as:

In "Heaven has different signs -- to me," "rapture" represents the connection between nature and religious experience (13).

• Shepherd University: Quoting Poetry Within a Paper Using MLA Documentation
• The Literature Network: Annabel Lee
• Poetry Foundation: Ode On a Grecian Urn
• Poetry Foundation: Still Life in Landscape
• Poems by Emily Dickinson, Volume 3: "Heaven" Has Different Signs—to Me

Based in Richmond, Va., Tara Carson has written articles for editorial and corporate online and print publications for more than 10 years. She has experience as an adjunct professor of nutrition at Northwest Christian University and holds a Bachelor of Science in journalism and nutrition from Virginia Commonwealth University.

A Full Guide to Writing a Perfect Poem Analysis Essay

01 October, 2020

14 minutes read

Author:  Elizabeth Brown

Poem analysis is one of the most complicated essay types. It requires the utmost creativity and dedication. Even those who regularly attend a literary class and have enough experience in poem analysis essay elaboration may face considerable difficulties while dealing with the particular poem. The given article aims to provide the detailed guidelines on how to write a poem analysis, elucidate the main principles of writing the essay of the given type, and share with you the handy tips that will help you get the highest score for your poetry analysis. In addition to developing analysis skills, you would be able to take advantage of the poetry analysis essay example to base your poetry analysis essay on, as well as learn how to find a way out in case you have no motivation and your creative assignment must be presented on time.

What Is a Poetry Analysis Essay?

A poetry analysis essay is a type of creative write-up that implies reviewing a poem from different perspectives by dealing with its structural, artistic, and functional pieces. Since the poetry expresses very complicated feelings that may have different meanings depending on the backgrounds of both author and reader, it would not be enough just to focus on the text of the poem you are going to analyze. Poetry has a lot more complex structure and cannot be considered without its special rhythm, images, as well as implied and obvious sense.

While analyzing the poem, the students need to do in-depth research as to its content, taking into account the effect the poetry has or may have on the readers.

Preparing for the Poetry Analysis Writing

The process of preparation for the poem analysis essay writing is almost as important as writing itself. Without completing these stages, you may be at risk of failing your creative assignment. Learn them carefully to remember once and for good.

Thoroughly read the poem several times

The rereading of the poem assigned for analysis will help to catch its concepts and ideas. You will have a possibility to define the rhythm of the poem, its type, and list the techniques applied by the author.

While identifying the type of the poem, you need to define whether you are dealing with:

• Lyric poem – the one that elucidates feelings, experiences, and the emotional state of the author. It is usually short and doesn’t contain any narration;
• Limerick – consists of 5 lines, the first, second, and fifth of which rhyme with one another;
• Sonnet – a poem consisting of 14 lines characterized by an iambic pentameter. William Shakespeare wrote sonnets which have made him famous;
• Ode – 10-line poem aimed at praising someone or something;
• Haiku – a short 3-line poem originated from Japan. It reflects the deep sense hidden behind the ordinary phenomena and events of the physical world;
• Free-verse – poetry with no rhyme.

The type of the poem usually affects its structure and content, so it is important to be aware of all the recognized kinds to set a proper beginning to your poetry analysis.

Find out more about the poem background

Find as much information as possible about the author of the poem, the cultural background of the period it was written in, preludes to its creation, etc. All these data will help you get a better understanding of the poem’s sense and explain much to you in terms of the concepts the poem contains.

Define a subject matter of the poem

This is one of the most challenging tasks since as a rule, the subject matter of the poem isn’t clearly stated by the poets. They don’t want the readers to know immediately what their piece of writing is about and suggest everyone find something different between the lines.

What is the subject matter? In a nutshell, it is the main idea of the poem. Usually, a poem may have a couple of subjects, that is why it is important to list each of them.

In order to correctly identify the goals of a definite poem, you would need to dive into the in-depth research.

Check the historical background of the poetry. The author might have been inspired to write a poem based on some events that occurred in those times or people he met. The lines you analyze may be generated by his reaction to some epoch events. All this information can be easily found online.

Choose poem theories you will support

In the variety of ideas the poem may convey, it is important to stick to only several most important messages you think the author wanted to share with the readers. Each of the listed ideas must be supported by the corresponding evidence as proof of your opinion.

The poetry analysis essay format allows elaborating on several theses that have the most value and weight. Try to build your writing not only on the pure facts that are obvious from the context but also your emotions and feelings the analyzed lines provoke in you.

How to Choose a Poem to Analyze?

If you are free to choose the piece of writing you will base your poem analysis essay on, it is better to select the one you are already familiar with. This may be your favorite poem or one that you have read and analyzed before. In case you face difficulties choosing the subject area of a particular poem, then the best way will be to focus on the idea you feel most confident about. In such a way, you would be able to elaborate on the topic and describe it more precisely.

Now, when you are familiar with the notion of the poetry analysis essay, it’s high time to proceed to poem analysis essay outline. Follow the steps mentioned below to ensure a brilliant structure to your creative assignment.

Best Poem Analysis Essay Topics

• Mother To Son Poem Analysis
• We Real Cool Poem Analysis
• Invictus Poem Analysis
• Richard Cory Poem Analysis
• Ozymandias Poem Analysis
• Barbie Doll Poem Analysis
• Caged Bird Poem Analysis
• Ulysses Poem Analysis
• Dover Beach Poem Analysis
• Annabelle Lee Poem Analysis
• Daddy Poem Analysis
• The Raven Poem Analysis
• The Second Coming Poem Analysis
• Still I Rise Poem Analysis
• If Poem Analysis
• Fire And Ice Poem Analysis
• My Papa’S Waltz Poem Analysis
• Harlem Poem Analysis
• Kubla Khan Poem Analysis
• I Too Poem Analysis
• The Juggler Poem Analysis
• The Fish Poem Analysis
• Jabberwocky Poem Analysis
• Charge Of The Light Brigade Poem Analysis
• The Road Not Taken Poem Analysis
• Landscape With The Fall Of Icarus Poem Analysis
• The History Teacher Poem Analysis
• One Art Poem Analysis
• The Wanderer Poem Analysis
• We Wear The Mask Poem Analysis
• There Will Come Soft Rains Poem Analysis
• Digging Poem Analysis
• The Highwayman Poem Analysis
• The Tyger Poem Analysis
• London Poem Analysis
• Sympathy Poem Analysis
• I Am Joaquin Poem Analysis
• This Is Just To Say Poem Analysis
• Sex Without Love Poem Analysis
• Strange Fruit Poem Analysis
• Dulce Et Decorum Est Poem Analysis
• Emily Dickinson Poem Analysis
• The Flea Poem Analysis
• The Lamb Poem Analysis
• Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night Poem Analysis
• My Last Duchess Poetry Analysis

Poem Analysis Essay Outline

As has already been stated, a poetry analysis essay is considered one of the most challenging tasks for the students. Despite the difficulties you may face while dealing with it, the structure of the given type of essay is quite simple. It consists of the introduction, body paragraphs, and the conclusion. In order to get a better understanding of the poem analysis essay structure, check the brief guidelines below.

Introduction

This will be the first section of your essay. The main purpose of the introductory paragraph is to give a reader an idea of what the essay is about and what theses it conveys. The introduction should start with the title of the essay and end with the thesis statement.

The main goal of the introduction is to make readers feel intrigued about the whole concept of the essay and serve as a hook to grab their attention. Include some interesting information about the author, the historical background of the poem, some poem trivia, etc. There is no need to make the introduction too extensive. On the contrary, it should be brief and logical.

Body Paragraphs

The body section should form the main part of poetry analysis. Make sure you have determined a clear focus for your analysis and are ready to elaborate on the main message and meaning of the poem. Mention the tone of the poetry, its speaker, try to describe the recipient of the poem’s idea. Don’t forget to identify the poetic devices and language the author uses to reach the main goals. Describe the imagery and symbolism of the poem, its sound and rhythm.

Try not to stick to too many ideas in your body section, since it may make your essay difficult to understand and too chaotic to perceive. Generalization, however, is also not welcomed. Try to be specific in the description of your perspective.

Make sure the transitions between your paragraphs are smooth and logical to make your essay flow coherent and easy to catch.

In a nutshell, the essay conclusion is a paraphrased thesis statement. Mention it again but in different words to remind the readers of the main purpose of your essay. Sum up the key claims and stress the most important information. The conclusion cannot contain any new ideas and should be used to create a strong impact on the reader. This is your last chance to share your opinion with the audience and convince them your essay is worth readers’ attention.

Problems with writing Your Poem Analysis Essay? Try our Essay Writer Service!

Poem Analysis Essay Examples 

A good poem analysis essay example may serve as a real magic wand to your creative assignment. You may take a look at the structure the other essay authors have used, follow their tone, and get a great share of inspiration and motivation.

Check several poetry analysis essay examples that may be of great assistance:

• https://study.com/academy/lesson/poetry-analysis-essay-example-for-english-literature.html
• https://www.slideshare.net/mariefincher/poetry-analysis-essay

Writing Tips for a Poetry Analysis Essay

If you read carefully all the instructions on how to write a poetry analysis essay provided above, you have probably realized that this is not the easiest assignment on Earth. However, you cannot fail and should try your best to present a brilliant essay to get the highest score. To make your life even easier, check these handy tips on how to analysis poetry with a few little steps.

• In case you have a chance to choose a poem for analysis by yourself, try to focus on one you are familiar with, you are interested in, or your favorite one. The writing process will be smooth and easy in case you are working on the task you truly enjoy.
• Before you proceed to the analysis itself, read the poem out loud to your colleague or just to yourself. It will help you find out some hidden details and senses that may result in new ideas.
• Always check the meaning of words you don’t know. Poetry is quite a tricky phenomenon where a single word or phrase can completely change the meaning of the whole piece. 
• Bother to double check if the conclusion of your essay is based on a single idea and is logically linked to the main body. Such an approach will demonstrate your certain focus and clearly elucidate your views. 
• Read between the lines. Poetry is about senses and emotions – it rarely contains one clearly stated subject matter. Describe the hidden meanings and mention the feelings this has provoked in you. Try to elaborate a full picture that would be based on what is said and what is meant.

Write a Poetry Analysis Essay with HandmadeWriting

You may have hundreds of reasons why you can’t write a brilliant poem analysis essay. In addition to the fact that it is one of the most complicated creative assignments, you can have some personal issues. It can be anything from lots of homework, a part-time job, personal problems, lack of time, or just the absence of motivation. In any case, your main task is not to let all these factors influence your reputation and grades. A perfect way out may be asking the real pros of essay writing for professional help.

There are a lot of benefits why you should refer to the professional writing agencies in case you are not in the mood for elaborating your poetry analysis essay. We will only state the most important ones:

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As you see, there are a lot of advantages to ordering your poetry analysis essay from HandmadeWriting . Having such a perfect essay example now will contribute to your inspiration and professional growth in future.

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Trying Your Hand at Poetry? Learn How To Write Compelling Titles for Your Poems

First impressions are essential — especially when it comes to poetry.

As is the case with each stanza, poem titles should be pithy and pregnant with meaning. 

It’s a tall order, and crafting a good title is tough. 

Some argue it’s the most challenging part of penning a poem. 

So today, we’re demystifying the magic behind how to title poems.

We’ll begin with a few Dos and Don’ts, hop to a how-to list, then close with a handful of poem title ideas and examples.

• Good Poem Titles 

Bad Poem Titles

1. do you need a title, 2. make it evocative, 3. use archetypes and stereotypes, 4. get emotional, 5. use length as an indicator, 6. infuse it with conflict, 7. try a name or place, 8. will comedy work, 9. make sure it’s not taken, 1. “epic of gilgamesh” by unknown ancient sumerians, 2. “the road not taken” by robert frost, 3. “the highwayman” by alfred noyes, 4. “ozymandias” by percy bysshe shelley, 5. “death be not proud” by john donne, 6. “there will come soft rains” by sara teasdale, 7. “a litany for survival” by audre lorde, final thought, what should good poem titles do and not do.

Good creative poetry titles embody certain qualities. With that in mind, let’s break down what you should and shouldn’t do. 

Good Poem Titles  

Good poem titles may seem simple, but looks are often deceiving. Some poets report spending multiple days — if not weeks — mulling over ideas for a given work. 

What do they consider? Let’s look at the three main pillars of a captivating poem title.

Poems are infused with intrigue, and so should their titles. Make it something that sparks interest. But don’t go overboard. You don’t want to be misleading or ostentatious.  

Meaning gives poems their weight — their gravitas. That passion should be apparent from the beginning. Titles should steep the work with further significance. Remember, though, that “meaningful” isn’t synonymous with “maudlin.” Don’t be overwrought.

The title is a poem’s “shingle” — the sign that explains what’s inside. Therefore, it should mirror the tone of the piece unless, of course, satire is the goal. 

We’ve all run across bad poem titles. Admittedly, we’ve also written our fair share. It’s a poet’s rite of passage. But as you mature as a writer, the goal is to grow and improve. To that end, what should you avoid regarding poem titles?  

Repeated Line

Remember when you thought the height of powerful poetry was a repeated chorus line? Please don’t read us wrong. The technique can be used for a moving effect under an experienced and nuanced pen.

But clunky attempts stand out for the wrong reasons — and are frequently made worse by appointing it the rank of title. It’s overkill; avoid it. 

Pretentious

Some may argue that poetry, in and of itself, is a pretentious endeavor. We’d disagree but still caution poets against leaning into their grandiloquent demons. Finding the perfect word is a linguistic virtue; trying to sound highfalutin is a literary sin. 

Avoid bland and common poem titles. Sure, if you must go with “Untitled,” as is a poetic tradition, have at it. But steer clear of generic titles or ones that other people have used. 

How to Write Poetry Titles in 9 Steps 

Consider the following steps, tips, and questions when workshopping poem titles. 

Not every poem needs a title. In fact, going without is somewhat of a poetic tradition. However, if publication is the goal, come up with something. Titled works are more likely to be included in compilations than untitled ones.  

Craft something that grabs the reader — something evocative. The aim is to conjure memorable imagery in the mind’s eye. Your words should invoke a time, place, and mood. 

Robert Frost’s “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening” is frequently cited as a poem title that expertly paints a picture.

In most areas of life, it’s good to look past archetypes and stereotypes. But when it comes to poem titles, leaning into them can be the answer.

Think of archetypes and stereotypes as semantic shortcuts. They allow you to convey emotion with very few words. 

Consider Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Bells,” “The Sleeper,” and “The Raven.” All immediately bring to mind a specific mood and imagery.

One of the magical things about poetry is that it connects people across time and place. As such, leveraging emotionality when conveying a universal joy or fear is part of the art. 

Emily Dickinson’s “It Was Not Death, for I Stood Up” and John Keats’s “Ode on Melancholy” are both declarative, stirring poem titles that speak to collective worries. 

Writers use sentence length to pace their work, and it’s also an important consideration when crafting a poem title.

Will a punchy, one-word moniker work best? Or would something more meandering convey the voice and vibe of the work?

Remember that shorter titles need powerful words, and longer ones work best with a surprising twist, like Billy Collins’s “Another Reason Why I Don’t Keep A Gun In The House.”

Don’t overlook the power of conflict when creating poem titles. Many people use Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” as a perfect example of hinting at conflict positively and concisely, rendering it an ideal poem title.

T.S. Eliot’s “The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock” and Sylvia Plath’s “Daddy” immediately come to mind as examples of name titles.

James Lynne Alexander’s “A Day at the Falls of Niagara” and John McCrae’s “In Flanders Fields” illustrate strong examples linked to specific places.

No rule insists that poems must be serious or pedantic. So if your work twinkles with joviality and comic undertones, reflect that energy in the title.

Consider using a pun, as the unknown author did for “Do You Carrot All for Me?” A pun-analogy poem in which the second line reads: My heart beets for you.

Nonsensical phrases and titles can also work, like Spike Milligan’s “On the Ning Nang Nong” and Lewis Carroll’s “ Jabberwocky.”

Legally speaking, copyright law prohibits poets from copyrighting titles. However, it’s a terrible form to plagiarize something from the past or present. Sure, there are millions of poems appropriately titled “Mom” or “Family.”

But don’t make up something uncomfortably close to another poet’s title. Nobody unironically wants “The Love Song of G. Alfred Prufrock.”

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7 of the Best Poem Titles

One of the best ways to learn how to write a title of a poem is to study great work. In that spirit, let’s examine seven fantastic poem titles and what makes them work.

The “Epic of Gilgamesh” is the first long poem known to modern man. Archeologists believe it was written sometime between 2100 and 1200 BC and tells stories of Mesopotamia’s ancient rulers. 

It made our list of the best poem titles because a) it’s historical significance and b) it packs a lot of information into a pint-sized title. The word “epic” does a lot of heavy lifting and lets readers know they are in for a long tale of magnanimous proportions.  

Poem Trivia: Academics regard the “Epic of Gilgamesh” as the first heroic saga.

Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” is one of the most popular but misunderstood English-language poems of all time.

Most folks think it’s a laudatory ode to following one’s own path. In reality, it’s a clever exploration of how both options represent loss and gain and are essentially the same.  

The title is excellent because it tugs on universal human heartstrings. Everyone entertains “what if” once in a while, and Frost’s construction teases a revelation that urges readers to continue.  

Poem Trivia: The spark for the poem came from a real-life walk when Frost and a friend couldn’t decide which path to take upon arriving at a fork. 

People of a certain age best know Alfred Noyes’s iconic poem “The Highwayman” thanks to Anne Shirley’s (of Green Gables) recitation. In truth, Noyes originally published the narrative ballad in 1906, and it’s widely considered “the best ballad poem in existence for oral delivery.”

What makes the title great is that it’s dripping with romantic imagery of the time, when “highwaymen” were mysterious figures around which many fictions were slung, and fantasies were woven. 

Poem Trivia: The BBC listed it as Great Britain’s 15th most-beloved poem.

Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “Ozymandias” is often regarded as one of the most profound English poems ever written. A romantic treatise on the impermanence of life, it describes how even the brightest legacies are destined to decay under the ravages of time.

Shelley went with a one-word name title, which works brilliantly with the theme, as Ozymandias was once a powerful pharaoh who was revered worldwide. But at the time of publication, the fallen ruler was a lost footnote in the bowels of a forgotten archive. Ozymandias’s pre- and post-mortem life embodied Shelley’s thesis, making it a great title and model metaphor.

Poem Trivia: “Ozymandias” was written as part of a friendly competition between Shelley and Horace Smith.

Also known as “Sonnet X” or “Holy Sonnet 10,” John Donne’s famous 14-line missive “Death Be Not Proud” urges readers to examine their opinion of death as a fallible entity. A metaphysical thinker, Donne opted to personify “Death” and dress it down for its pride.

“Death Be Not Proud” is a great title because it mixes several techniques. It’s evocative, infused with conflict, emotional, and even a tad humorous in a slightly satirical way.   

Poem Trivia: Though Donne was a cleric and stoic literary talent, he was always without money due to womanizing and vice fulfillment. (He also had 12 kids!)

Published in the immediate wake of the 1918 pandemic and WWI Ludendorff offensive, Sara Teasdale’s “There Will Come Soft Rains” reminds readers of Nature’s ultimate superiority and chastises the waging of war for all its unnecessary attendant waste. 

It’s a brilliant title. For starters, the phrase “soft rains” invokes feelings of natural comfort, the anchoring theme of Teasdale’s work. Moreover, the anticipatory “there will come” imbues the title with an air of hope, rendering it evocative and emotional.  

Poem Trivia: Teasdale, and this work specifically, was heavily influenced by the work and findings of Charles Darwin.

Womanist, LGBTQ+ activist, and committed academic Audre Lorde was revered for her linguistic mastery of expression. In “A Litany for Survival,” Lorde succinctly explains the quotidian realities of existing in marginalized bodies.

Using the word “litany” instead of “prayer” is perfection…poeticized. Though synonyms, litany connotes repetitiveness, which speaks to the frustrating and maddening inescapability of one’s genetics clashing with the status quo.  

Poem Trivia: Lorde was raised in a strict family and struggled to communicate as a child. Finding poetry was revolutionary for her, as she once explained that she naturally “thinks in poetry.”

Best of luck trying to craft the perfect title for your latest poem. Try not to stress out about it. Perfect options have a way of popping up when you’re relaxed and not toiling over the issue.

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“Fog,” “Song of Myself,” “On the Pulse of Morning,” “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” Poetry titles can be single words or evocative phrases, literal or fanciful, beautiful and intriguing — and a poem’s title can be just as powerful as the poem itself. And before you think about publishing a poetry book , you need to hone in on the titles of your poems.

Choosing the right name for your poem is crucial, and can help draw in readers, provide valuable information and context, and set the stage for all that comes next. But choosing the best name to enhance your poem’s impact can be a challenge. If you’re looking to pick the perfect title for your work, check out the tips and ideas below.

Table of Contents: • The role of a title in poetry • 5 Tips for titling your poem • Exercises to write good poem titles • The final touch: BookBaby’s editing services

The role of a title in poetry

A great title can elevate your poem in multiple ways. The right title can:

• Draw readers in with a strong first impression . The title is the very first thing that readers will see when they engage with your poem. If the name sparks curiosity, elicits a strong feeling, or creates some sort of question or intrigue that makes readers want to explore further, you’ve done your job.
• Set the perfect tone . Whether your poem is humorous or horrifying, bittersweet or wistfully inspiring, the title can create a great mood or tone from which to launch your poem. By simply titling his poem “The Raven,” Edgar Allen Poe created a sense of ominous foreboding, and the title “Still I Rise” sets up Maya Angelou’s words to take the reader soaring. A well-chosen title or phrase can set the appropriate tone for your own great works.
• Provide valuable context . Two poems by Emily Dickinson — “Hope is the thing with feathers” and “Because I could not stop for death” — show how much key information can be provided in the title alone. The first elicits a theme of hope and a sense of elevation and atmosphere, while the second communicates a narrator who is coping with loss and the continuation of life around it. In your own writing, think about what key information needs to be presented right up front, and see if you can artfully weave those messages into the poem’s title.

5 Tips for titling your poem

There’s no rules when it comes to the words or capitalization rules for your title . Here are some ideas to help you get started choosing the perfect title for your poem:

• Draw inspiration from your poem itself . Read your poem several times through and pay attention to how you react. Do specific words, phrases, lines, images, or feelings stand out to you? Does your poem imply something that could be stated explicitly as its title? Are you left with some feeling or sensation? Any of the above can serve as inspiration for a great poem title.
• Consider the theme or central idea . Does your poetry collection focus on themes like simple joys, death and loss, change and growth, or fractures and repairs? Regardless of what your poems explore or express, take a bird’s eye view of your work and keep what you see in mind as you pick your captivating titles.
• Use intriguing or evocative language . Some of the best poem titles are the ones that hook readers and make them want to know more. Who exactly is J. Alfred Prufrock, and what does it mean for the morning to have a pulse? Similarly, strong poem titles can provoke images and feelings that draw readers in.
• Keep it simple . If you make your poem’s title too complex, the whole thing can start to feel artificial and contrived. Remember that the title of the poem sets the scene, but should in no way upstage the poem itself.
• Make your title reflect the poem’s vibe, form, and style . While it’s often a good creative practice to break rules and try unconventional things, unless you have a strong reason to do so, keep your title and the poem itself consistent when it comes to form and style. Titling a Shakespearean-themed sonnet with a phrase from contemporary social media slang, for example, could be more jarring, confusing, and off-putting than helpful.

Exercises to write good poem titles

If your poem’s title comes to you in a flash, fully formed and perfect, wonderful. But if you’re unsure of the type of name your poem deserves, a brainstorming session can help. Here are some ways to get started on the creative process:

• Look for words or phrases from your poem’s text that might also work as a title.
• Read through your poem, take a breather, and then write down as many possible titles as you can think of. Don’t be afraid to write down titles that don’t seem right in the moment; ideas that may look bad initially can often sparkle when revisited.
• Visualize your poem published in a book or journal and pay attention to the title that you imagine on the page.
• Use online tools like poem title generators or AI chatbots to come up with different titles that might be a right fit. Remember that these utilities should be used as ways to spark your imagination, and not as a replacement for your own creativity.
• Ask other people to read your poem and share their reactions, then see if anything they say inspires you with possible title ideas.

Once you’ve gathered potential names and whittled the list down to one or several finalists, it can be helpful to get feedback and revise your title. When you show your poem and its title to trusted readers, do they find that the name pulls them in, and that it fits organically with the poem itself — or is the name boring, unclear, or closer to lackluster clickbait? Of course, you’re the ultimate judge of the best name for your poem, but outside feedback can certainly help you get your work where you need it to be.

Also, consider the possibility that perhaps your poem doesn’t need a title at all. James Baldwin, Alexander Pope, and countless others have written poems that don’t have official names. Do you feel that your work is complete unto itself, and that adding a title would subtract rather than add to the overall impact? If so, maybe an unnamed poem is the best way to go.

The final touch: BookBaby’s editing services

Your poem is written and your title has been crafted, tested, and refined. The final step? Using BookBaby’s expert book editing services to give your work the professional polish it needs to truly shine. BookBaby’s editors have years of experience helping DIY poets realize their literary dreams — and they can do the same for you.

Also, be sure to reach out to BookBaby for all of your poetry needs, including poetry book printing , book formatting , and book cover design .

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Writing about poetry can be one of the most demanding tasks that many students face in a literature class. Poetry, by its very nature, makes demands on a writer who attempts to analyze it that other forms of literature do not. So how can you write a clear, confident, well-supported essay about poetry? This handout offers answers to some common questions about writing about poetry.

What's the Point?

In order to write effectively about poetry, one needs a clear idea of what the point of writing about poetry is. When you are assigned an analytical essay about a poem in an English class, the goal of the assignment is usually to argue a specific thesis about the poem, using your analysis of specific elements in the poem and how those elements relate to each other to support your thesis.

So why would your teacher give you such an assignment? What are the benefits of learning to write analytic essays about poetry? Several important reasons suggest themselves:

• To help you learn to make a text-based argument. That is, to help you to defend ideas based on a text that is available to you and other readers. This sharpens your reasoning skills by forcing you to formulate an interpretation of something someone else has written and to support that interpretation by providing logically valid reasons why someone else who has read the poem should agree with your argument. This isn't a skill that is just important in academics, by the way. Lawyers, politicians, and journalists often find that they need to make use of similar skills.
• To help you to understand what you are reading more fully. Nothing causes a person to make an extra effort to understand difficult material like the task of writing about it. Also, writing has a way of helping you to see things that you may have otherwise missed simply by causing you to think about how to frame your own analysis.
• To help you enjoy poetry more! This may sound unlikely, but one of the real pleasures of poetry is the opportunity to wrestle with the text and co-create meaning with the author. When you put together a well-constructed analysis of the poem, you are not only showing that you understand what is there, you are also contributing to an ongoing conversation about the poem. If your reading is convincing enough, everyone who has read your essay will get a little more out of the poem because of your analysis.

What Should I Know about Writing about Poetry?

Most importantly, you should realize that a paper that you write about a poem or poems is an argument. Make sure that you have something specific that you want to say about the poem that you are discussing. This specific argument that you want to make about the poem will be your thesis. You will support this thesis by drawing examples and evidence from the poem itself. In order to make a credible argument about the poem, you will want to analyze how the poem works—what genre the poem fits into, what its themes are, and what poetic techniques and figures of speech are used.

What Can I Write About?

Theme: One place to start when writing about poetry is to look at any significant themes that emerge in the poetry. Does the poetry deal with themes related to love, death, war, or peace? What other themes show up in the poem? Are there particular historical events that are mentioned in the poem? What are the most important concepts that are addressed in the poem?

Genre: What kind of poem are you looking at? Is it an epic (a long poem on a heroic subject)? Is it a sonnet (a brief poem, usually consisting of fourteen lines)? Is it an ode? A satire? An elegy? A lyric? Does it fit into a specific literary movement such as Modernism, Romanticism, Neoclassicism, or Renaissance poetry? This is another place where you may need to do some research in an introductory poetry text or encyclopedia to find out what distinguishes specific genres and movements.

Versification: Look closely at the poem's rhyme and meter. Is there an identifiable rhyme scheme? Is there a set number of syllables in each line? The most common meter for poetry in English is iambic pentameter, which has five feet of two syllables each (thus the name "pentameter") in each of which the strongly stressed syllable follows the unstressed syllable. You can learn more about rhyme and meter by consulting our handout on sound and meter in poetry or the introduction to a standard textbook for poetry such as the Norton Anthology of Poetry . Also relevant to this category of concerns are techniques such as caesura (a pause in the middle of a line) and enjambment (continuing a grammatical sentence or clause from one line to the next). Is there anything that you can tell about the poem from the choices that the author has made in this area? For more information about important literary terms, see our handout on the subject.

Figures of speech: Are there literary devices being used that affect how you read the poem? Here are some examples of commonly discussed figures of speech:

• metaphor: comparison between two unlike things
• simile: comparison between two unlike things using "like" or "as"
• metonymy: one thing stands for something else that is closely related to it (For example, using the phrase "the crown" to refer to the king would be an example of metonymy.)
• synecdoche: a part stands in for a whole (For example, in the phrase "all hands on deck," "hands" stands in for the people in the ship's crew.)
• personification: a non-human thing is endowed with human characteristics
• litotes: a double negative is used for poetic effect (example: not unlike, not displeased)
• irony: a difference between the surface meaning of the words and the implications that may be drawn from them

Cultural Context: How does the poem you are looking at relate to the historical context in which it was written? For example, what's the cultural significance of Walt Whitman's famous elegy for Lincoln "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed" in light of post-Civil War cultural trends in the U.S.A? How does John Donne's devotional poetry relate to the contentious religious climate in seventeenth-century England? These questions may take you out of the literature section of your library altogether and involve finding out about philosophy, history, religion, economics, music, or the visual arts.

What Style Should I Use?

It is useful to follow some standard conventions when writing about poetry. First, when you analyze a poem, it is best to use present tense rather than past tense for your verbs. Second, you will want to make use of numerous quotations from the poem and explain their meaning and their significance to your argument. After all, if you do not quote the poem itself when you are making an argument about it, you damage your credibility. If your teacher asks for outside criticism of the poem as well, you should also cite points made by other critics that are relevant to your argument. A third point to remember is that there are various citation formats for citing both the material you get from the poems themselves and the information you get from other critical sources. The most common citation format for writing about poetry is the Modern Language Association (MLA) format .

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• Knowledge Base
• How to write a literary analysis essay | A step-by-step guide

How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay | A Step-by-Step Guide

Published on January 30, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on August 14, 2023.

Literary analysis means closely studying a text, interpreting its meanings, and exploring why the author made certain choices. It can be applied to novels, short stories, plays, poems, or any other form of literary writing.

A literary analysis essay is not a rhetorical analysis , nor is it just a summary of the plot or a book review. Instead, it is a type of argumentative essay where you need to analyze elements such as the language, perspective, and structure of the text, and explain how the author uses literary devices to create effects and convey ideas.

Before beginning a literary analysis essay, it’s essential to carefully read the text and c ome up with a thesis statement to keep your essay focused. As you write, follow the standard structure of an academic essay :

• An introduction that tells the reader what your essay will focus on.
• A main body, divided into paragraphs , that builds an argument using evidence from the text.
• A conclusion that clearly states the main point that you have shown with your analysis.

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Table of contents

Step 1: reading the text and identifying literary devices, step 2: coming up with a thesis, step 3: writing a title and introduction, step 4: writing the body of the essay, step 5: writing a conclusion, other interesting articles.

The first step is to carefully read the text(s) and take initial notes. As you read, pay attention to the things that are most intriguing, surprising, or even confusing in the writing—these are things you can dig into in your analysis.

Your goal in literary analysis is not simply to explain the events described in the text, but to analyze the writing itself and discuss how the text works on a deeper level. Primarily, you’re looking out for literary devices —textual elements that writers use to convey meaning and create effects. If you’re comparing and contrasting multiple texts, you can also look for connections between different texts.

To get started with your analysis, there are several key areas that you can focus on. As you analyze each aspect of the text, try to think about how they all relate to each other. You can use highlights or notes to keep track of important passages and quotes.

Language choices

Consider what style of language the author uses. Are the sentences short and simple or more complex and poetic?

What word choices stand out as interesting or unusual? Are words used figuratively to mean something other than their literal definition? Figurative language includes things like metaphor (e.g. “her eyes were oceans”) and simile (e.g. “her eyes were like oceans”).

Also keep an eye out for imagery in the text—recurring images that create a certain atmosphere or symbolize something important. Remember that language is used in literary texts to say more than it means on the surface.

Narrative voice

Ask yourself:

• Who is telling the story?
• How are they telling it?

Is it a first-person narrator (“I”) who is personally involved in the story, or a third-person narrator who tells us about the characters from a distance?

Consider the narrator’s perspective . Is the narrator omniscient (where they know everything about all the characters and events), or do they only have partial knowledge? Are they an unreliable narrator who we are not supposed to take at face value? Authors often hint that their narrator might be giving us a distorted or dishonest version of events.

The tone of the text is also worth considering. Is the story intended to be comic, tragic, or something else? Are usually serious topics treated as funny, or vice versa ? Is the story realistic or fantastical (or somewhere in between)?

Consider how the text is structured, and how the structure relates to the story being told.

• Novels are often divided into chapters and parts.
• Poems are divided into lines, stanzas, and sometime cantos.
• Plays are divided into scenes and acts.

Think about why the author chose to divide the different parts of the text in the way they did.

There are also less formal structural elements to take into account. Does the story unfold in chronological order, or does it jump back and forth in time? Does it begin in medias res —in the middle of the action? Does the plot advance towards a clearly defined climax?

With poetry, consider how the rhyme and meter shape your understanding of the text and your impression of the tone. Try reading the poem aloud to get a sense of this.

In a play, you might consider how relationships between characters are built up through different scenes, and how the setting relates to the action. Watch out for  dramatic irony , where the audience knows some detail that the characters don’t, creating a double meaning in their words, thoughts, or actions.

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Your thesis in a literary analysis essay is the point you want to make about the text. It’s the core argument that gives your essay direction and prevents it from just being a collection of random observations about a text.

If you’re given a prompt for your essay, your thesis must answer or relate to the prompt. For example:

Essay question example

Is Franz Kafka’s “Before the Law” a religious parable?

Your thesis statement should be an answer to this question—not a simple yes or no, but a statement of why this is or isn’t the case:

Thesis statement example

Franz Kafka’s “Before the Law” is not a religious parable, but a story about bureaucratic alienation.

Sometimes you’ll be given freedom to choose your own topic; in this case, you’ll have to come up with an original thesis. Consider what stood out to you in the text; ask yourself questions about the elements that interested you, and consider how you might answer them.

Your thesis should be something arguable—that is, something that you think is true about the text, but which is not a simple matter of fact. It must be complex enough to develop through evidence and arguments across the course of your essay.

Say you’re analyzing the novel Frankenstein . You could start by asking yourself:

Your initial answer might be a surface-level description:

The character Frankenstein is portrayed negatively in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein .

However, this statement is too simple to be an interesting thesis. After reading the text and analyzing its narrative voice and structure, you can develop the answer into a more nuanced and arguable thesis statement:

Mary Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as.

Remember that you can revise your thesis statement throughout the writing process , so it doesn’t need to be perfectly formulated at this stage. The aim is to keep you focused as you analyze the text.

Finding textual evidence

To support your thesis statement, your essay will build an argument using textual evidence —specific parts of the text that demonstrate your point. This evidence is quoted and analyzed throughout your essay to explain your argument to the reader.

It can be useful to comb through the text in search of relevant quotations before you start writing. You might not end up using everything you find, and you may have to return to the text for more evidence as you write, but collecting textual evidence from the beginning will help you to structure your arguments and assess whether they’re convincing.

To start your literary analysis paper, you’ll need two things: a good title, and an introduction.

Your title should clearly indicate what your analysis will focus on. It usually contains the name of the author and text(s) you’re analyzing. Keep it as concise and engaging as possible.

A common approach to the title is to use a relevant quote from the text, followed by a colon and then the rest of your title.

If you struggle to come up with a good title at first, don’t worry—this will be easier once you’ve begun writing the essay and have a better sense of your arguments.

“Fearful symmetry” : The violence of creation in William Blake’s “The Tyger”

The introduction

The essay introduction provides a quick overview of where your argument is going. It should include your thesis statement and a summary of the essay’s structure.

A typical structure for an introduction is to begin with a general statement about the text and author, using this to lead into your thesis statement. You might refer to a commonly held idea about the text and show how your thesis will contradict it, or zoom in on a particular device you intend to focus on.

Then you can end with a brief indication of what’s coming up in the main body of the essay. This is called signposting. It will be more elaborate in longer essays, but in a short five-paragraph essay structure, it shouldn’t be more than one sentence.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, protagonist Victor Frankenstein is a stable representation of the callous ambition of modern science throughout the novel. This essay, however, argues that far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as. This essay begins by exploring the positive portrayal of Frankenstein in the first volume, then moves on to the creature’s perception of him, and finally discusses the third volume’s narrative shift toward viewing Frankenstein as the creature views him.

Some students prefer to write the introduction later in the process, and it’s not a bad idea. After all, you’ll have a clearer idea of the overall shape of your arguments once you’ve begun writing them!

If you do write the introduction first, you should still return to it later to make sure it lines up with what you ended up writing, and edit as necessary.

The body of your essay is everything between the introduction and conclusion. It contains your arguments and the textual evidence that supports them.

Paragraph structure

A typical structure for a high school literary analysis essay consists of five paragraphs : the three paragraphs of the body, plus the introduction and conclusion.

Each paragraph in the main body should focus on one topic. In the five-paragraph model, try to divide your argument into three main areas of analysis, all linked to your thesis. Don’t try to include everything you can think of to say about the text—only analysis that drives your argument.

In longer essays, the same principle applies on a broader scale. For example, you might have two or three sections in your main body, each with multiple paragraphs. Within these sections, you still want to begin new paragraphs at logical moments—a turn in the argument or the introduction of a new idea.

Robert’s first encounter with Gil-Martin suggests something of his sinister power. Robert feels “a sort of invisible power that drew me towards him.” He identifies the moment of their meeting as “the beginning of a series of adventures which has puzzled myself, and will puzzle the world when I am no more in it” (p. 89). Gil-Martin’s “invisible power” seems to be at work even at this distance from the moment described; before continuing the story, Robert feels compelled to anticipate at length what readers will make of his narrative after his approaching death. With this interjection, Hogg emphasizes the fatal influence Gil-Martin exercises from his first appearance.

Topic sentences

To keep your points focused, it’s important to use a topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph.

A good topic sentence allows a reader to see at a glance what the paragraph is about. It can introduce a new line of argument and connect or contrast it with the previous paragraph. Transition words like “however” or “moreover” are useful for creating smooth transitions:

… The story’s focus, therefore, is not upon the divine revelation that may be waiting beyond the door, but upon the mundane process of aging undergone by the man as he waits.

Nevertheless, the “radiance” that appears to stream from the door is typically treated as religious symbolism.

This topic sentence signals that the paragraph will address the question of religious symbolism, while the linking word “nevertheless” points out a contrast with the previous paragraph’s conclusion.

Using textual evidence

A key part of literary analysis is backing up your arguments with relevant evidence from the text. This involves introducing quotes from the text and explaining their significance to your point.

It’s important to contextualize quotes and explain why you’re using them; they should be properly introduced and analyzed, not treated as self-explanatory:

It isn’t always necessary to use a quote. Quoting is useful when you’re discussing the author’s language, but sometimes you’ll have to refer to plot points or structural elements that can’t be captured in a short quote.

In these cases, it’s more appropriate to paraphrase or summarize parts of the text—that is, to describe the relevant part in your own words:

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The conclusion of your analysis shouldn’t introduce any new quotations or arguments. Instead, it’s about wrapping up the essay. Here, you summarize your key points and try to emphasize their significance to the reader.

A good way to approach this is to briefly summarize your key arguments, and then stress the conclusion they’ve led you to, highlighting the new perspective your thesis provides on the text as a whole:

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

• Choosing Essay Topic
• Write a College Essay
• Write a Diversity Essay
• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

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• Grammar Checker
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By tracing the depiction of Frankenstein through the novel’s three volumes, I have demonstrated how the narrative structure shifts our perception of the character. While the Frankenstein of the first volume is depicted as having innocent intentions, the second and third volumes—first in the creature’s accusatory voice, and then in his own voice—increasingly undermine him, causing him to appear alternately ridiculous and vindictive. Far from the one-dimensional villain he is often taken to be, the character of Frankenstein is compelling because of the dynamic narrative frame in which he is placed. In this frame, Frankenstein’s narrative self-presentation responds to the images of him we see from others’ perspectives. This conclusion sheds new light on the novel, foregrounding Shelley’s unique layering of narrative perspectives and its importance for the depiction of character.

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How do you start a poem? Where does it start? What does the poet do to step inside a poem? Writing poetry can feel daunting, particularly when the blank page stays blank and stares at you, waiting to be imbued with meaning. If you’re stuck and wondering how to start a poem, you’re in the right place.

Starting a poem requires patience with the process and close attention to language. The same can be said of writing a poem in general. Nonetheless, this article offers tips, advice, and insights into the mystical process of putting pen to paper.

Along the way, we’ll look at examples of contemporary poetry with stunning opening lines, and discuss what the start of a poem ought to accomplish. Let’s get into the weeds of how to start a poem.

How to Start a Poem: Contents

How to Start a Poem: What the Beginning Accomplishes

The initiating subject vs. the generated subject, how to start a poem: examples from contemporary poetry.

• Freewriting
• Write Everything First, Pick a Beginning Later
• Don’t Try to “Be Poetic”
• Start With Form
• Start From the Body
• Begin at the End
• Start Mindfully
• Use Writing Prompts

More Resources for Starting a Poem

There are no strict rules for how to start a poem. When we look at some examples of opening lines, each poem’s beginning will accomplish something unique to the poems themselves. So, don’t assume your poem needs to do all of the following, but do note that many great poems begin with some of the following traits.

Here are some ways to start a poem. The beginning of a poem might:

• Example: “Tired of Love Poems” by Megan Fernandes
• Example: “Riddle at 29,000 Feet” by Tracy Brimhall
• Example: “Heaven” by Franz Wright
• Example: “When We’re in Bed and You Take Out Your Mouth Guard, I Know It’s On” by Melissa Crowe
• Example: “Mountain Dew Commercial Disguised as a Love Poem” by Matthew Olzmann
• Example: “The Shortest Night” by Victoria Chang
• Example: “Summer Was Forever” by Chen Chen.
• Example: “The Language of the Birds” by Richard Siken

There are many other ways to start a poem, but these ways feel common in contemporary poetry. The through line of all of these possibilities is that the beginning pulls the reader into the world of the poem . That’s often the hardest part of writing good poetry: opening the door to the reader and hoping they cross that threshold.

The beginning pulls the reader into the world of the poem.

If that sounds like a lot of pressure for poetry, you’re not alone in feeling like the stakes are high. But, don’t think of these possibilities as “goals” for your poem. Rather, think of them as the end result of good drafting and editing, which we’re about to explore further.

A useful distinction for poets as they start and work on their poems is the difference between the initiating subject and the generated subject. These are terms coined by the poet Richard Hugo; you can read about them in his craft book The Triggering Town , or get the TL;DR at this LitHub article .

In short, the initiating subject is the reason you started writing the poem, whether it was a writing prompt, a stroke of inspiration, or whatever it is that brought you to the blank page.

The generated subject is what gets uncovered by the poet as they write the poem. All poems are an act of discovery, and a poet often stumbles into meanings they themselves didn’t intend.

All poems are an act of discovery, and a poet often stumbles into meanings they themselves didn’t intend.

Understanding this distinction can be incredibly freeing for poets. Just because you started a poem about the ocean doesn’t mean it needs to stay about the ocean; a good poem will inevitably traverse other themes . And no two poets will write the same ocean poems. Mine might be about relationships; yours might be about your mother.

All of this is to take the pressure off of writing a first draft. There is no “wrong” place to start a poem. Start anywhere, see what ideas you develop, and then sculpt the raw material you write into a revised poem. The most important thing to do is start. 

Let’s look at how to start a poem off, with examples from contemporary poets. Pay close attention to the poem’s start, and how it makes the poem’s entirety possible.

“The Voice of God” by Mary Karr

Retrieved here, from Commonweal Magazine.

Ninety percent of what’s wrong with you could be cured with a hot bath, says God from the bowels of the subway. But we want magic, to win the lottery we never bought a ticket for. (Tenderly, the monks chant, embrace the suffering.) The voice of God does not pander, offers no five-year plan, no long-term solution, nary an edict. It is small & fond & local. Don’t look for your initials in the geese honking overhead or to see thru the glass even darkly. It says the most obvious crap— put down that gun, you need a sandwich.

There is so much to discuss just in the first three lines of this poem, which the following lines really just rehash and explore in different lights. The irony and humor here cannot be ignored: it’s bold to start a poem addressing what’s wrong with the reader. And pay attention to how the line breaks allow the poem’s meaning to evolve with surprise: an address to what’s wrong with you; an unexpectedly simple cure; an ironic commentary on the source of God’s voice. Why the bowels of the subway?

I love this poem for its unflinching candor and perspective on human behavior. We desire big changes, and believe God’s enormity results in enormous acts, but Karr’s poem tells us the opposite: the changes in our lives are found in the minuscule and everyday. Although I think the poem really is its first three lines, they do set up an excellent ending: “put down that gun, you need a sandwich.”

“Poem Number Two on Bell’s Theorem, or The New Physicality of Long Distance Love” by June Jordan

Retrieved here, from Academy of American Poets .

There is no chance that we will fall apart There is no chance There are no parts.

About half of this short poem is its long title, and while some long-titled poems are better off with short titles, this title does a lot of excellent work. For reference, Bell’s Theorem is a theorem from quantum physics. Clumsily summarized, it theorizes that events in the universe are linked together at a quantum level, and those events influence each other without touching each other. An atom’s movement at one end of the universe might influence an atom’s movement at the other end, and that influence occurs faster than the speed of light can allow. This theorem helps set apart quantum physics from classical physics, which is the physics you learned in high school—things like velocity and mass.

If that doesn’t make sense to you, don’t worry, this isn’t an article about physics. The point is that the title does excellent work, and the poem’s three lines are beautiful even if you don’t understand the concept. Despite the fact that this love poem is written in the language of science, there’s a beautiful, analytic romance underlying these words, a declaration that the poem’s two subjects are quantumly linked, and nothing will ever break that bond. Because, you know, physics.

“Arrhythmia” by Hailey Leithauser

Retrieved from Poetry Out Loud .

The heart of a bear is a cloud-shuttered mountain. The heart of a mountain’s a kiln. The white heart of a moth has nineteen white chambers. The heart of a swan is a swan.

The heart of a wasp is a prick of plush. The heart of a skunk is a mink. The heart of an owl is part blood and part chalice. The fey mouse heart rides a dawdy dust-cart.

The heart of a kestrel hides a house wren at nest. The heart of lark is a czar. The heart of a scorpion is swidden

and spark. The heart of a shark is a gear. Listen and tell, thrums the grave heart of humans. Listen well love, for it’s pitch dark down here.

This is a poem that leans expertly into metaphor, and does so straightaway. This is a poem that resists easy interpretation or linear meaning, and does so musically and delightfully. I can’t stop repeating the line “The fey mouse heart rides a dawdy dust-cart” to myself, it’s so jaunty and fun to say. I love this poem’s close attention to language—it’s even a sonnet , but the volta is more a shift in syntax than a shift in meaning.

Certainly spend time wrestling with the metaphors. Why is a bear’s heart a cloud-shuttered mountain? Why is the heart of a swan, a swan? But after you’re done wrestling, tap out and experience the poem without trying to understand or interpret or “make sense”—you’ll find, paradoxically, it is easier to understand the poem when you aren’t trying to.

Ways to Start a Poem (When You Don’t Know Where to Start)

We’ve looked at some concrete ways to start a poem, as well as examples of good poem beginnings. But, what about that other way to start—as in, quite literally, how do you figure out the first words and put them on the page?

Let’s talk about how to start writing a poem. If you’re stressed about starting, creatively blocked, or otherwise just can’t bring yourself to the page with confidence, these ways to start a poem can take the pressure off.

How to Start a Poem: Freewriting

Freewriting can take the pressure off from trying to write a capital-P Poem. Instead of worrying about craft elements and line breaks, just get your thoughts on the page.

Freewriting is simply writing what comes to mind, similar to stream-of-consciousness. A freewrite doesn’t need to be linear or make sense: just write what arises and follow your brain’s trains of association.

You can also prompt your freewrites, whether by finding writing prompts online or by reading poems that inspire you. (This is what students do in Susan Vespoli ’s Writing Circles!)

After you’ve freewritten for 10 or 15 minutes, look back at what you’ve written down and see if you can sculpt it into a poem. You’ll find that the freewriting process helps loosen up your writing muscles and get you acquainted with your thoughts and feelings, making the doorways into a poem much more apparent.

How to Start a Poem: Write Everything First, Pick a Beginning Later

This is similar advice to the above. If you don’t know where to start, don’t worry about it: write everything and figure out the beginning later.

I’ll sometimes do this if I have a lot to say on a topic but don’t know where to start. I’ll write in verse, but I won’t try to write from start to end: rather, I’ll jot down lines, stanzas, metaphors, imagery , even just words I know I want to use.

Once I’ve done this, the start of the poem still might not be clear. But I’ll have material that I can stitch together into a working first draft, and through that process, the start will start to emerge, especially when I consider how I need to invite the reader into the poem’s world.

How to Start a Poem: Don’t Try to “Be Poetic”

Poets sometimes freeze on the page because they feel the need to “be poetic.” In other words, they feel an obligation to use language that is elevated and artful, symbolic and metaphoric, nuanced and ripe for interpretation.

That’s a big obligation, and truthfully, it doesn’t always lead to better poetry—sometimes simple language is far better.

But, more to the point, there’s no such thing as a perfect first draft. Trying to force one out is inhibiting yourself as a writer, and preventing you from even getting started. Allow yourself to write plainly and un-poetically—your intuition will let you know if there are better ways to say what you need to say, but you can’t know if you don’t start somewhere.

Say what you need to in the plainest language possible.

A good piece of advice for all poets is to say what they need to in the plainest language possible. That’s different than “only write using plain language,” because plain language isn’t capable of expressing the full breadth of human emotion. Plenty of artful, elevated, un-plain poems are also using the plainest language possible—they simply can’t be any plainer than what they are.

How to Start a Poem: Start With Form

If you’re a poet who gets excited by form, maybe start there. The restraints of formal poetry might challenge you into the opening lines of the poem, especially forms that restrict the language of the first line, like the villanelle or the ghazal .

In a way, I’ve found that thinking about form helps take the pressure off the opening lines, because I’m thinking about language in a structured way. The language should still be just as good as it is in a free verse poem , but by giving me something to pay attention to that isn’t just language, I can zoom out a little and find the words I’m looking for better.

This is true even for nonce or invented forms. What if you wrote a poem in the shape of a TV script, a listicle, or a tic-tac-toe board? The point is to let form give you a doorway into the poem.

For more on formal poetry, check out our article:

https://writers.com/how-to-write-a-free-verse-poem

How to Start a Poem: Start From the Body

Where do you feel the poem in your body? Write from there.

Obviously, that’s pretty vague. How do you write from your lungs or your armpit? The point is that poetry can be a tool for recalibrating ourselves to our bodies. Let’s say you feel something, and you feel the need to write it into poetry, but you don’t know where to begin. Where do you feel that something in your body? What does it feel like? How are you experiencing your body in that moment?

All of those questions are prompts that can get you into starting your poem. It is totally valid to start a poem with “my armpit aches,” or “my body craves touch.” Maybe you’ll delete that line in revision, but hopefully it does what it was supposed to do—get you to write the next line, and then the next, and then the first draft.

How to Start a Poem: Begin at the End

Maybe you don’t know how to begin a poem, but you know how you want it to end. What if you started at the end?

You can always move the end to the end in revision, but if you know what you want the poem to say, start by saying it, or beginning with the conclusion you thought you were arriving towards. You might find that, actually, the end was the beginning all along, or that you had more to say that you didn’t even realize.

Trying this out will also help reorient your perspective, which is always a useful still for writing poetry. By stepping outside of your own expectations, you can see things with a different sense of clarity. And, again, if the end really was the end, you can move it to the end—now that you’ve generated a first draft with it.

How to Start a Poem: Start Mindfully

Sometimes, starting a poem feels difficult because we can’t find the right words. But they’re certainly there, in our minds, waiting to be released onto the page. When this happens, mindfulness might be your greatest tool.

Mindful writing simply means accepting what arises in the mind without judgment or self-editing. It means slowing down, breathing deeply, and experiencing your thoughts as they happen. This gets easier as you practice it, as does any meditation practice.

So, slow down and focus on your breathing. When your thoughts arise, listen to them, and gently refocus your attention on your breath. The longer you do this and the closer you listen, the more you’ll hear what your brain is trying to put on the page, and the more doorways will arise in the mind.

How to Start a Poem: Use Writing Prompts

Writing prompts are another great way to find doorways into starting a poem. If you want to start a poem, but you’re still in the ideas stage, these websites regularly put out writing prompts or have prompt generators:

• Poets & Writers
• Poetry Prompt Generator
• Robert Peake

Here are some additional resources for learning about, and finding inspiration from, poetry.

• How to Write a Poem
• What is Poetry?
• How to Read Poetry
• Learning to Write Poetry

You can also read more about starting a poem here:

https://writers.com/feature/on-starting-a-poem

Start Your Next Poem at Writers.com!

The courses at Writers.com are designed to give you inspiration and motivation. Check out our upcoming online poetry courses , where you’ll write the poems you need to write.

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How To Write Book Titles The Proper Way: A Complete Guide For Writers

• February 10, 2022

Book titles within essays or papers can be tricky. There are specific rules that are given for how to include a book title in a way that sets it apart from the content of your writing given by the Modern Language Association. However, as with many other things in life, there are exceptions to the rules. This article will guide you through the rules of the writing style guides so that you can include a book’s title in your paper or essay correctly.

How to write book titles:

Style guides and book titles.

When it comes to book titles within text, there are a few different style guides that have rules you can follow, depending on your writing type. The three types that you will encounter most often are; MLA style, Chicago manual of style, and APA. A writing instructor will usually tell you what style guide you are expected to use for a particular essay or paper.

MLA Style Guide

The MLA handbook states that you should always italicize book titles when styling book titles within your text. The exception to this rule are religious texts. You would not italicize the Holy Bible or the sacred books or titles of other religions. Note the following example.

Pam had stayed most of the summer indoors, re-reading her favorite book series. She was already up to  Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone , and she didn’t regret not being more active or going outside.

In the above example, the book title is italicized. Fiction titles and nonfiction titles alike must be in italics when within the text.

Series Titles in MLA

In the above example, a book from a series was used. But what if the text had not specified which book from the series Pam was reading? Would it still need to be in italics? The answer is: in this case, yes. In other cases, sometimes.

It’s really not as confusing as it seems. When you are talking about a book series but don’t want or need to include the complete series titles for the purposes of your work, you only have to put words in italics that also appear in the book titles. So, because  Harry Potter  is part of the title of all of the books in the series, you would italicize his name every time you mention the book.

However, if you were talking about Katniss Everdeen, you would not have to do this, as the book series she is featured in doesn’t use her name in the titles of  The Hunger Games  series. The same would be true of books like the Nancy Drew books.

Quotation Marks

There are instances in which titles should be placed inside of quotation marks within a paper or essay. This is done when you cite the titles of poems , a chapter title, short stories, articles, or blogs.

So, for example, if you were to write a paper that featured a poem from a book, you would put the book title in italics and the poems cited in quotation marks.

An example of an enduring love poem is “Annabel Lee” from  The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe. 

Chapter Title

Another time that quotation marks should be used is when using the title of a chapter. If you are citing a specific chapter of a book, you would enclose the title of the chapter in quotation marks, and the title of the book should be in italics.

The desperation and sadness of a man on death row can be seen in the “Wild Wind Blowing” chapter of Norman Mailer’s  The Executioner’s Song. 

Short Stories

Short stories are another case. Much like the title of a chapter or poem, in which the title is placed in quotation marks, while the title of the book or collection it is found in is italics. The same can be said for sections, stories, or chapters cited within a literary journal.

Stepping away from his norm of horror and gore, Stephen King writes of trust, love, and regret in his story “The Last Rung on the Ladder,” which can be found in his short story collection  Night Shift. 

Punctuation Marks

If you are citing a story or title that includes question marks, you need to make sure to italicize the question mark when citing. Keep all punctuation, such as a question mark, comma, ellipses, colon, or exclamation mark, as it is in the original individual books.

If you want a funny and irreverent read, you’ve got to try  Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea.  Chelsea Handler has done a phenomenal job of being vulgar, relatable, and explaining life from her viewpoint in this hilarious and memorable book.

The Digital Age: Are Book Titles Underlined Anymore?

MLA style used to dictate that a book title should either be in italics or underlined. However, that is no longer the case. As computers started to take over as the major tool used in writing, it became unpopular to underline book titles. Therefore, this rule was dropped from the style guides.

However, it should be mentioned that when handwriting an essay or research paper, many instructors prefer that you underline book titles, as it’s relatively difficult to handwrite italics. If you are in a writing course or a class that is heavy on handwritten work, be sure to ask your instructor or teacher which method they prefer for citing a book title.

How to Come Up with Book Title Ideas

Now that quotation marks, italics, and style guides have been discussed, let’s move on to how you can come up with your own book title. If you’d like a title for your book that sounds interesting and will get a reader’s attention, you may find this article helpful.

Coming up with a good title for your book is a challenging yet essential marketing decision . The right title can make your target audience choose your new book off of the shelf instead of another writer’s work. Your book cover and your book title are quite possibly the most important marketing decisions you will make.

How to Choose a Good Book Title

Certain criteria should be met if you want to have a good book title , and there are specific steps involved in getting there. You may have assumed up until now that titles of books were just spur of the moment decisions made by authors or publishers, but a lot of work goes into writing good titles.

Grab the Reader’s Attention

As a general rule, you want your reader to remember your title and to sound interesting, even without the reader having seen the cover. There are several ways to do this. You can be a little dark with your title, be controversial, provoke the reader, or even be funny.

There are many examples of such works that use memorable and attention-seeking titles. The following are some different titles that are effective and would most likely provoke a reader to grab them from a shelf for closer inspection.

• Burn After Writing (Sharon Jones)
• Love in the Time of Cholera (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
• Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (Mindy Kaling)
• Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea (Chelsea Handler)
• The Devil Wears Prada (Lauren Weisberger)
• Chicken Soup for the Soul (various authors)
• God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian (Kurt Vonnegut)

Shorter Titles

If your full title for your book is long, you may end up boring a reader or creating a situation where a reader tries to remember the title of your book, but it’s too long and ends up getting it confused with another book. Although you should always do your best to make sure that there aren’t books by other authors that share a title or have a title similar to your book (more on that in a minute), you don’t want a person to get confused and get the wrong book instead.

Research Your Title Ideas

It’s a good idea to take the titles you have considered for your book and make a list. Then, do your homework. You can use tools like Google Adwords to test out your title to see if there are others like it, or you can simply use any search engine and plug your title ideas into the search bar and see what similar or exact titles of the same words pop up.

Readers are generally busy people. They don’t have the time or the energy to ensure that writers get a title right. They’ll look for the book they are interested in, and if it proves to be too difficult, or if there are other books written that have the same title, they’ll move on to something else.

A writer really has to make sure that they have a title that isn’t going to be ignored, is interesting, isn’t too long, and isn’t too similar to other works.

The same goes for titles of short works within a larger body of work. Short works, like poems or stories, need to have unique titles as well when included in a larger body of work, such as a collection. If stories are similar in nature, be sure to title them differently so that readers will be able to tell them apart, as well.

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