The "Poetry Block" Many students freeze when they see a poem in the Reading section. They think, "I don't understand what this means literally." The Secret: You aren't supposed to read it literally. You are supposed to read it emotionally.
The "Mood First" Method Before you obsess over difficult words, ask yourself: "What is the mood?" Is the author angry? Sad? Awestruck? Sarcastic? Scan the text for "hot words." Words like gloomy, shadow, weep = Sad/Melancholic. Words like bright, soar, leap = Joyful.
Figurative Language Cheat Sheet You will almost certainly be asked about these: Metaphor: Saying something is something else ("The classroom was a zoo"). Simile: Using "like" or "as" ("He ate like a pig"). Personification: Giving human feelings to objects ("The wind screamed").
Test Tip: If a question asks, "Why did the author use the word 'screamed' to describe the wind?", the answer is usually about atmosphere. It creates a feeling of danger or intensity.