How do you do it?
Close reading a poem involves reading it over a number of times. Each time we move through the poem we pause, re-focus and reflect. But what exactly are we looking for when we do these things?
Over the next few Steps, you’re going to use the poem ‘Patagonia’ by Kate Clanchy as a basis for your close reading. We will introduce three different points of focus to guide your close reading:
- Feelings
- Patterns
- Puzzles
Each of these points of focus will reveal new aspects of the poem as you read and re-read it. You’ll take them one at a time so that you explore the poem slowly and carefully, building up your interpretation of it gradually over time. Keep a copy of all your notes in your journal/notebook to help you quickly refer back. This will be particularly useful when you work through the practical tasks in the coming Steps.
Before we delve into the techniques, let us introduce you to ‘Patagonia’.
Task (10-15 minutes)
Read the following poem and answer the questions below.
Patagonia
I said perhaps Patagonia, and pictured
a peninsula, wide enough
for a couple of ladderback chairs
to wobble on at high tide. I thoughtof us in breathless cold, facing
a horizon round as a coin, looped
in a cat’s cradle strung by gulls
from sea to sun. I planned to waittill the waves had bored themselves
to sleep, till the last clinging barnacles,
growing worried in the hush, had
paddled off in tiny coracles, tillthose restless birds, your actor’s hands,
had dropped slack into your lap,
until you’d turned, at last, to me.
When I spoke of Patagonia, I meantskies all empty aching blue. I meant
years. I meant all of them with you.‘Patagonia’ from Selected Poems ©Kate Clanchy,
Imagine that this poem is a room and you’ve just stepped into it. How would you describe its atmosphere, its soundscape and its shape?
Just as you did with the poem that you chose in Step 1.4, capture your first impressions about ‘Patagonia’ in your journal and discuss them with your fellow Learners in the comments area. Take a moment to look at other comments to compare your notes.
Remember – at this stage you’re looking to record your initial ideas as they first occur to you. Don’t overthink your responses at this early stage; instead, trust your instincts.
We recommend that you have this poem to hand for the remainder of the week as you’ll be asked to refer back to it. You can find a copy of ‘Patagonia’ under ‘downloads’, which you can print out for personal use or open in a separate tab to view.
Please note: Kate’s poem is protected by copyright. Please don’t distribute your notes with Kate’s poem in a public forum without permission.
© University of Reading
