An analytical reader response paper. Follow any acceptable form

An analytical reader response paper. Follow any acceptable form (MLA, APA, etc.) 3 or 4 pages long (or more). Select any poem you like; I suggest a fairly short piece. (The Raven is WONDERFUL to analyze, but is long and involved; use such a poem if you wish). When you select a poem, consider the following suggestions.
a. In the opening paragraph, consider the title and what it might mean; what general type of poem it is (lyric, narrative, or dramatic); mention anything you know about the authors life that might give a hint at the message; describe the first lines of the poem in terms of the possible meaning of any symbols or figures of speech they contain (you should look for and explain symbols and figures of speech throughout the poem); discuss what is being described (the setting; is there any symbolic meaning in it); what characters are used (stock characters, types, or archetypes) or what you see as the authors persona or narrative voice. You dont have to use this order, and there are other questions you might ask (see the material included below), but the main idea is to figure out the setting and nature of the poets angle of vision.
b. In the next paragraphs, (the body of the essay), work through the poem stanza by stanza explaining anything symbolic (including figures of speech), the relationship of symbols to each other and to any message being developed; what actions or ideas are being described and how they contribute to building the general message of the poem (which you will clarify in the last paragraph or two of your paper), and comment on the use of words, the rhythm and rhyme (particularly if they relate clearly to the ideas being expressed), and any other elements of technique or word use you find important. Go through the entire poem in this manner.
c. In the closing section of your essay, comment on the overall tone, message, and meaning of the work; what did the writer want the reader to know? Remember: you are making an argument here (This poem MEANS X), so be sure to anchor your interpretation in the poem itself; the authors words and symbols are the evidence for your argument, and if they are ambiguous, you should acknowledge that yours is one possible interpretation and that others may also be legitimate. (NB: remember EN105/106: when you close, try to write a graceful and interesting last line; dont just stop writing; and be sure to give your finished product a good title and first line as well.)