Final answer:
In response to the poem, critical analysis involves examining the use of imagery, structure, sound, and figurative language, all of which are interdependent and contribute to the poem's meaning and the reader's experience.
Step-by-step explanation:
When analyzing and responding to a poem, a critical approach includes examining elements such as imagery, structure, sound, and figurative language. Imagery involves using precise words to create sensory experiences, allowing readers to visualize and engage with the text on a deeper level. The structure of lines and stanzas can include visual elements such as line lengths, line endings, and the use of caesuras to shape the reader's experience of the poem rhythmically and visually.
Sound devices like alliteration, rhyme, and rhythm contribute to the poem's overall musicality and can emphasize certain emotions or themes. Figurative language, including similes, metaphors, and personification, enriches the text by comparing and attributing qualities in unconventional ways that provoke thought and broaden understanding. Each element is interconnected, enhancing the poem's meaning and the reader's experience, as highlighted by the phrase 'A poem is what a poem does.'