ZIMSEC O Level · Literature in English · Form 1, Form 2, Form 3, Form 4
Elements of poetry
- Subject and theme: what the poem is about and its message.
- Speaker (persona) and tone: who is speaking, and the attitude (bitter, joyful, mournful, ironic).
- Imagery: language that appeals to the senses.
- Structure: stanzas, line length, enjambment (lines running on), caesura (a pause within a line).
- Sound: rhyme, rhythm, alliteration (repeated consonant sounds), assonance (repeated vowel sounds), onomatopoeia (words that sound like their meaning), repetition.
A method for any poem (SMILE)
- Structure: how is it organised and why?
- Meaning: what is it about, on the surface and deeper?
- Imagery: which images stand out and what do they suggest?
- Language: word choice, figures of speech, tone.
- Effect: how does the poem make the reader feel or think?
Unseen poetry
Read the poem at least twice, underline striking words, work out the situation and speaker, then answer with short quotations and explanation.
Exam tip: Quote only a word or phrase, then explain its connotations – this is where most marks are earned.
Check yourself
- What is enjambment?
- Define alliteration.
- What does “tone” mean in a poem?
Show answers
- When a sentence runs on from one line to the next without a pause.
- The repetition of the same consonant sound at the start of nearby words.
- The attitude or mood of the speaker towards the subject.
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