Close reading techniques can be used for both poetry and prose in different but helpful ways.

For Poetry:

• Imagery:
  Look at the colorful descriptions and sensory words.
  How do they make you feel or set a certain mood?

• Sound Devices:
  Listen for things like alliteration (similar sounds), assonance (similar vowel sounds), and rhymes.
  How does the sound add to the meaning of the poem?

• Form and Structure:
  Pay attention to where the lines break, how the stanzas are arranged, and the punctuation used.
  How do these parts help shape the overall feeling of the poem?

For Prose:

• Characterization:
  Think about how the characters are shown.
  What do their actions and words tell us about people or society?

• Narrative Technique:
  Decide who is telling the story and from what perspective.
  How does the choice of narrator change how we understand the story?

• Theme and Motif:
  Look for ideas and symbols that appear often.
  What big ideas do these details show throughout the text?

Common Techniques:

• Contextualization:
  Place both poetry and prose in their historical and cultural settings.
  How does the background affect what we understand?

• Intertextuality:
  Spot references to other stories or texts.
  How do these links help us gain a deeper understanding of the piece?

By using close reading techniques that fit the special features of poetry and prose, readers can discover more details and meaning in literary works.