What is Poetry Analysis and which homeschool high schoolers should study it?
Poetry analysis is a special topic for just the right homeschool teen. Not every teen needs to study it, in fact, if your teens do not really like poetry, this topic would not be interesting to them.
However, there are several kinds of homeschooling high schoolers who will benefit from and enjoy a light-hearted introduction to this interesting topic.
What is Poetry Analysis?
7Sisters introduces this skill by covering the basics without overwhelming teens. As our 7th Sisters know, we do not believe in killing a subject, but rather we want teens to actually like the topic and want learn more.
This poetry guide assumes that teens have already learned the basics of poetry. Thus we recommend that teens start with our three basic poetry writing guides:
- Introductory High School Poetry Writing
- Intermediate High School Poetry Writing
- Advanced High School Poetry Writing
As they work through these guides, they build confidence, experience and enjoyment with basic poetry concepts. Writing poetry is also an important part of building high-school level writing skills.
Then it is time to experience Poetry Analysis in this five-week guide which covers:
- Analyzing poetry forms
- Skills for analyzing poetry vocabulary, imagery and tropes
- Analyzing poetry rhythm and rhyme patterns
- Discerning poetry meanings through voice, tone, themes and impressions
- Then wrapping the unit up by writing an analytical essay (the text includes a sample essay for teens)
- Click here for an excerpt to Poetry Analysis Guide
Who are the teens who will benefit from studying Poetry Analysis?
Here are the kinds of high schoolers who should experience an introduction to this kind of study.
Teens who are college bound
College-bound homeschool homeschoolers will often find some poetry analysis in their freshman English courses. Therefore, it is a smart idea to have an introduction to this skill so that they are already familiar with the topic when they get to college.
Sometimes college students can feel intimidated by analyzing poetry. It can seem clunky and or mystifying. That is why 7Sisters has created a no-busywork guide that covers the concepts without killing the topic. When teens complete this writing guide, they will feel more confident as they face their college courses.
Teens who are love to read poetry
Some high schoolers love to read poetry! These teens will benefit from a five-week, don’t-kill-the-subject experience with analysis because it will deepen their understanding and awareness of the poems that they read.
When high schoolers learn the basics of analysis, they can climb into the mind of the poet and gain more appreciation of the meaning and artistry of their work. Poets do not simply sit down and crank out poems. They write and rewrite and rewrite their poems until each word and each line has meaning, power and beauty.
Teens who have learned some basic analysis skills can start to notice and understand WHY each word, line and format was chosen by a poet.
Teens who love to write poetry
Some teens love to create their own poetry! While there’s not ONE right way to write poetry, it is good to have experience with the basics of poetry creation and analysis. As jazz musicians say:
You have to know the rules before you break them.
Thus high schoolers who learn the “rules” of poetry can improvise with more beauty and skill. Learning poetry analysis is a way that students gain expertise in those rules.
More for teens who love poetry
- How to Earn an ELA Credit for Poetry
- Teaching Poetry for Health and Healing (Not Just ELA)
- Five Reasons Your Homeschool High Schoolers Need Poetry Writing
- Lots of resources in this Homeschool Highschool Podcast episode on How to Teach Poetry for High Schoolers
- Songs to Help Memorize Poetry (freebie!)
- Help Teens Understand the World through Poetry
- Three Reasons Why American Poetry: Reading and Writing is Good for Teens
- A fun episode of Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Writing Poetry: CAN Do!
- Finish the School Year with a Catty Unit Study and a Homeschool Poem
For homeschool parents who want to build their confidence in grading their teens’ writing assignments, here is a downloadable freebie.
If you are teaching poetry in co-op, here are some ideas to keep it engaging
- Three Ideas for Interesting Poetry in Homeschool Co-op
- Ideas that Teens Like for Teaching American Poetry in Homeschool Co-op
- Meaningful Co-op Activities for World Poetry: Reading and Writing
Download Poetry Analysis for your homeschool high schoolers and help them build confidence and skill in their poetry reading and writing experiences. All this without overdoing the topic!