Annotation

What do you do before you begin to annotate?

Before you begin your annotation, you should read the poem two or three times to get a general sense of the meaning.

What is the second step in annotating?

Clarify:Underline or highlight the words you do not know and put their meanings / a synonym next to the word in brackets. Put a * beside any lines that you are unsure about at this point. They should become more clear as you continue to annotate.

What is the seventh step in annotating?

Final Touches: If there is anything else that stands out to you as important, or something that you were thinking about while reading, make annotations along the side! Don't feel tied to these steps. If you think of something interesting, write it down!

What is the fourth step in annotating?

Literary Devices: Underline any uses of figurative language or literary devices. Some examples of these may include metaphor, simile, imagery, allusion, personification, hyperbole, oxymoron, alliteration etc.

What is the fifth step in annotating?

Poetic Form: Label the rhyme scheme and the meter. This can be done beside the lines, or along the bottom. Also check to see if there is anything significant to mention about the way the poem looks on the page (punctuation, shape, line length).

What is the third step in annotating?

Summarize: On the side of each stanza, write your understanding of what is happening in the poem. Consider: Who is speaking? To whom? About what? For what purpose? When and where? The tone?

What is the sixth step in annotating?

Theme: After you have done steps 1-5, consider the reason that the poet wrote this poem. What does he/she want you to think about? What message are they trying to send? Explain this theme along the bottom of the page.

What is the first step in annotating?

Title: Consider whether the title is important to the meaning of the poem. Why do you think the author chose this title?