How can I explicate thee? Let me count the ways!

Is this explication assignment giving you stomach trouble? Here's help . . .

HOW TO EXPLICATE A POEM

Try the following links for helpful suggestions, ideas, and examples . . .

http://www.uwrf.edu/~sl01/explcat.html
This site gives specific suggestions for different elements of the poem that you should consider. Because the professor goes into more specific detail about the process of analyzing the poem than Kennedy and Gioia provide in the text, this material is a great supplement.

http://www.williams.edu/English/PdfEnglish/Guide3LRaab.pdf
Professor Williams' site above provides a pdf handout. He offers some practical suggestions about the process for writing an explication, including some pre-writing activities different from Kennedy and Gioia's suggestions.

http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/markport/best/study/poetry.htm
This teacher's explication page includes a link to the American Academy of Poets "How to Read a Poem" as well as a sample explication.