Our first engagement with a poem usually concerns the what and the why questions: what is the poet's subject, and why has he/she chosen to write about it-topic and theme. But beyond the what and why is the how question. How does the poet use poetical structures and techniques, words, images and metaphors to manifest his/her intent? Closer examination of these devices can add immeasurable intellectual and emotional depth to your response to the poem, in the same way that knowing musical notation and structures broadens one's understanding of music.
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