How to Annotate a Poem and Why
81Annotating a poem is certainly not an exercise in futility. In order to understand the importance and purpose of annotating a poem, you first need to know the definition of “annotation.” An annotation is a marking done by the reader on a written work to help bring attention to or comment on a word, phrase, connection, or any aspect of the writing that the writer finds interesting, of note, or of potential importance.
Many students “hate” reading poetry because they think they do not understand the art form or what the poem means. (Just read Billy Collins' poem about how most students approach poetry and poems, “Introduction to Poetry.”) But annotations can help anyone find meaning in a poem. Poems are subjective and therefore take on a different connotation for each reader. It is when someone tries to impart his or her meaning on someone else as the only interpretation that people can get turned off by poetry. With annotations, one can at least come to have an appreciation for what is written in the poem and the stylistic elements used.
Sample Annotated Poem
Here is an example of my annotations for “Sonnet 75” by Edmund Spenser. Figure 1 shows the printed poem with annotations. These annotations were computer generated, as this annotation process was originally submitted for a course assignment. Since this was the end product of an assigned work, it could not be assumed the professor would understand what my annotations meant. As such, a key, much like the kind used for maps, was included. This is what you see in figure 2.
Key for Annotations
The benefits of using tools on the computer to complete annotations were many:
- If I made a mistake, all I had to do was hit “control + z” to undo the previous action. This saved me from having to print out a new copy of the poem and start over again.
- I could easily duplicate the annotation in any place in the poem by using copy and paste. This is even easier when using the shortcut keys “control + c” and “control + v.” Complicated symbols were easy to duplicate without variance in presentation.
- Smaller markings that would be almost impossible by hand were easy. Imagine tracing over just one letter every time you wanted to indicate internal rhyme or use color coding.
- It was easy to save a copy anywhere for future reference, like for this hub.
Why Annotation is Important
Any student that is asked to go through the annotation process often wonders why. As mentioned above, annotations help bring attention to or comment on a word, phrase, connection, or any aspect of the writing that the writer finds interesting, of note, or of potential importance. Just looking at a poem in black and white does not make many aspects of style or devices stand out. Once a poem is annotated, you can start seeing connections that help to answer the overarching questions when studying poetry: 1) What does the poem mean? and 2) How does that poem mean? The difference in these questions often confuse students. All you need to know for now is that you cannot answer the second question without annotations; however, you only need an opinion to answer the first question. Here are some things to consider as to the importance of making annotations:
- You can see if there is a regular interval for the use of certain devices, like repetition and rhyme to highlight the theme of the poem.
- Does the punctuation used say something about the speaker of the poem? Hesitant, disruptive, confident, rambling, etc.? For example, a lot of end-stopped lines could be symbolic of someone that has complete thoughts, whereas a lot of enjambment could signal a speaker without restraint.
- If there is only a one-time occurrence of a device or certain word or punctuation being used, is the poet and/or speaker trying to draw specific attention to it? If so, does this help to progress the theme or another aspect of the poem?
Of course the list is endless for how annotations can help anyone find meaning in a poem. To see how annotations develop into finding out what and how a poem means, click here to see an example of an essay that brings all these elements together.
Links for More Examples of Annotating a Poem
- University of West Georgia: http://www.westga.edu/~pburgey/Poetry/HowToAnnotateAPoem.htm
- This provides a guide for teaching poetry annotation: http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/29131.aspx
- How a poet annotates poems: http://www.davidwheldon.co.uk/annotated_poems.html
Take a listen to Billy Collins read the poem “Introduction to Poetry.”
"Introduction to Poetry" by Billy Collins
Last Updated: May 6, 2012
JimmieWriter, don't feel bad about not knowing the term enjambment. That's the great thing about continuing education and always being willing and open to learn something new. I had a B.A. in English and did not know the term. It was not until my M.A. English program and a poetry seminar that I learned the term, along with a ton of others.
Now I confess that I also have a MS in English education. (Hiding....)
:-) Thanks for your gracious answer. You are right. We are always learning.
JimmieWriter, then you really, really shouldn't be feeling bad. The M.S. focuses on teaching techniques whereas the M.A. focuses on the straight literature. So come out of hiding!
Very interesting hub here, I like how you've examined poetry in such a not so well known way of using "annotation", and as to make it a convenient method of choice. Revealing what the true meaning of a poem is to the viewer who's intrigued to learn isn't easy at all with some poems.
Many poets embed deep sublime forms of hidden messages to their audience and so annotation may be that key to unlock its not so obvious secrets.
I love writing poetry, but the only technique I've learned to utilize in my writings are known as iambic pentameter, and it was taught to me as a child by my elementary school English teacher.
I held tightly to her teachings and further developed my style of poetry writing years later, as a creative writer in high school and beyond. Today my poetry has sort of evolved into a technologically fueled twist of words mostly, because I loved science and technology so much throughout all my educative grammar school and college years experience overall.
This hub is powerfully presented, and I commend you for doing a great job at providing such a useful well thought out informative piece of writing.
Voted up as, awesome, useful, and interesting.
Thanks, CloudExplorer. I must say that I was not a big fan of poetry until undergraduate. But I really started liking poetry in my master's program because the professor did not force anything on anyone and stressed that there was no one way to read a poem or a "right" answer. As long as you could explain your thinking and process for the meter and rhythm chosen, you were fine. I really respected this and try to emulate it when I teach poetry units.
I agree that annotation is a useful key to unlocking many things about a poem. I don't like when someone tries to say they know everything about the poem and their reading is the right and only one. I have seen the light go out in people's eyes when they encounter someone who instructs like this. The point is to explore and think, not dictate and dominate.
Thanks for all your kinds words about my writing.
Thanks, CloudExplorer. I must say that I was not a big fan of poetry until undergraduate. But I really started liking poetry in my master's program because the professor did not force anything on anyone and stressed that there was no one way to read a poem or a "right" answer. As long as you could explain your thinking and process for the meter and rhythm chosen, you were fine. I really respected this and try to emulate it when I teach poetry units.
I agree that annotation is a useful key to unlocking many things about a poem. I don't like when someone tries to say they know everything about the poem and their reading is the right and only one. I have seen the light go out in people's eyes when they encounter someone who instructs like this. The point is to explore and think, not dictate and dominate.
Thanks for all your kinds words about my writing.
Very interesting hub--the longer I write, the more I think about truly understanding form and its function(s). Having tools to do so is important---I look forward t6o following you and reading your hubs!
Hello AudreyHowitt. Thanks for reading. I am glad you found this article worthwhile. I am also in constant pursuit of making my writing better.
No problem @ Stephanie, anytime for you, oh thanks for reading my tribute to Whitney Houston, that was so thoughtful of you.
You are quite welcome CloudExplorer.
JimmieWriter Level 3 Commenter 5 months ago
Enjambment is a new term for me. Thanks for the link. (I even have a degree in English! But there is always something new to learn, isn't there?) As a grammar nerd and literature lover, I enjoyed this hub. I don't think I've ever annotated a poem. (Maybe I forgot?) I have seen something similar to this for Bible study, though.