Final answer:
The planning stage is when you organize your approach and thoughts for a poem analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the planning stage of a poem analysis, you will map out your approach and organize your thoughts in a logical order. This stage is crucial because it helps you determine how to communicate your ideas effectively to your reader.
You might choose to organize your paper thematically, or tackle each idea sequentially, or in order of importance. It is also an opportunity to consider the structure of the poem and how it affects its meaning, as well as to ask analytical questions that guide the direction of your essay.