How would I approach the comparison of two unseen poems?

Comparing unseen material under exam conditions can be challenging, which is why it is important to take the necessary time at the start to read through the poems more than once and pick out comparative points. If I had an hour to write the essay I would use around 10 minutes to do this.When reading the poems remember that the poem format is smaller and more concise than that of a novel for example, meaning each word and their placement is a choice made by the poet to achieve a certain effect. The most prominent features to identify are structure, language, and form. If a poem is in the sonnet form it will most likely deal thematically with love, although if it doesn't this could be an opportunity to talk about the way the poet has strayed from tradition and what effect this has in relation to the content. In terms of structure, always check to see what the rhyme scheme is, or if there is any. Look for which words the poet has chosen to rhyme and what effect this has- does it give certain words more prominence? To approach the comparison aspect, I usually pick out at least 3 points to analyse in depth. I typically organise my points thematically, for example if both poems are about the theme of love, what similarities and differences are there in the way love is presented? Are similar techniques used to convey emotions and ideas? To conclude the essay I would make sure to refer back to the wording of the question to ensure I've shown my understanding, making a final summary statement about the relationship between the poems.

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