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Poetry is built from small choices that add up fast. A poet picks certain words, arranges lines a certain way, and leans on sound and rhythm, all to shape what you notice and how you feel. Close reading is the habit of slowing down so you can see those choices working, instead of rushing to a single message and getting stuck.
In this course, you are not trying to crack a secret code. You are practicing a repeatable way to notice what the poem does on the page, then explain how it does it. That approach starts with the poem itself.
A close reader treats a poem like a made object. Every part you can point to is a clue, because the poet could have written it differently.
When you read, look for three broad kinds of choices.
See how different layers can stand out in the same passage.
The key is that you do not have to notice everything. You only need to notice something real, then follow it.
Start small
One strong observation you can quote is worth more than ten vague impressions you cannot point to.
Once you begin noticing choices, you need a simple path that keeps you moving. Use this five part loop whenever you feel lost.
Explore how the loop plays out on a short poem.