SLAM Poetry Components

Structure

* Line breaks - how are they structured?
* Stanzas - how are they organized
* Punctuation - Is there any? What does it look like?
* How does the structure affect the meaning of the poem?
* Indents - why are they there?

Language

* Figurative Language (literary devices) - is it present?
* Sound Devices (rhythm, rhyme, repetition) - is it present?
* Sensory language - is it present?

Affect

* Tone - syntax and dictation? How does the author want you to feel?
* Mood - How does the poem make you feel? What emotions are evoked by the language?

Meaning

* What is the subject of the poem (main idea)
* Is there symbolism? What is the deeper meaning behind the symbols?
* What is the central message/theme of the poem?
* Why is the title important and how does it set the context of the poem?

More Tips

* Number lines
* colour code
* fill up the whole page
* elaborate on the circled text
* use sentences 2-3 each
* use pictures
* vocab: syntax, dictation, mood, tone
* highlight the title’s meaning
* talk about all aspects of SLAM with relatively equal detail