Understanding the context of a poem can deepen our understanding of it and the mindset of the poet. Learn about effective ways of referring to context when responding to poetry.

How do you tackle a poetry exam question that asks you to compare one poem with another? Learn about effective ways to explore similarities and differences to enable a better comparative response.

Writing your response to a poem, or making comparisons between two poems, takes careful planning. These tips show you how to analyse exam questions, structure essays and write in an appropriate style.

When making a point about a poem it’s important to support what you say by closely referencing the text. Find out how to make the most of key quotations - and how to keep them fresh in your memory.