After the past two weeks, I would rate my ability to read poetry a 6/10. I struggled to understand poems because I always overcomplicated the purpose. I never immediately understood a poem after reading it a few times. I had to break it down into sections, and even then, I still found myself confused. I would say reading poems as a class better helps me understand the overall meaning. My experience with poetry helped me when reading Oedipus the King by better analyzing the theme. I was able to explore the messages that the poem was trying to convey. I could identify the symbolism and metaphors that are used. It enhanced my understanding of the poem since it was written using many poetic elements. These experiences also had a connection to the poem “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day”. In the poem by Shakespeare, he compares his love to a summer day. When first reading it you might just think he’s talking about summer but because of metaphor, you know that there is a deeper meaning.
