• Who is speaking to whom? Through what mask? For what ostensible purpose?
  • Is the poem unified? Are there lines or words that donā€™t belong, that donā€™t fit in respect to sound or meaning? What can be eliminated to improve sound or meaning? What can be changed?
  • How does the poem use repetition, rhyme, alliteration, assonance, or other sonic devices effectively? Does the sound reinforce meaning?
  • How effective is the meter or syllable pattern if used? Is it done to reinforce meaning? Is it regulated well or is it awkwardly forced? What improvements can be made?
  • If a rhyme scheme is used, is it regular? Does the poet employ slant rhymes or approximate rhymes? If the rhyme scheme is irregular, should the poet attempt to make it regular or abandon the scheme altogether? Why? Does the rhyme enhance the meaning of the poem or detract from it? Why?
  • Consider the overall structure of the poem: the stanza form, line breaks, punctuation, etc. Does the structure seem artfully made or is it ā€œjust what happenedā€ and lack consideration of purpose?
  • What is the relationship of the title to the poem? Is it connected in meaning in some way? Does it provide the setting or context for the poem? Is it ironic? Is it symbolic?
  • If there is no title, what might be a good title and why?
  • If the poem is humorous, does it also offer an insight into some truth (through irony or satire) or is the humor used for its own sake?
  • If the poet has used a metaphor (or simile), what is being compared and how effective is the comparison? If there is an extended metaphor, is it consistent and unified?
  • How effective are the images in the poem? What senses does the poet appeal to? Do any of the images evoke emotional responses in the reader? If so, what is the effect?
  • Do the images in the poem create a particular tone? What is it and what is the function of the tone in the poem?
  • Which words, in particular, are most effective in the poems? Why? What does a particular word make you think of? If words are not effective, how are they not effective and what are some alternative choices the poet could consider that would strengthen the meaning of the poem?