UNLOCKING THE POEM

By Martin Beller and Donna Carlson Tanzer. By following a simple five-step process (read, respond, inquire, analyze, interpret), students learn how to understand and connect with any poem. The method stresses treating each poem as an "independent literary event," and encourages focusing on the meaning of the poem itself before considering the poetic techniques used. Each of five lessons provides an opportunity to use this approach by focusing on a single poem. Featured poets include William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, Claude McKay, Elizabeth Bishop, and Philip Larkin. A concluding section on terminology offers a review of the technical language of poetry. Grades 9–12. Sherpa Learning. 100 pages. ©2019.