Why is interpretation so significant when it comes to determining a poem?

Part of the joy of poetry is that—because writing poetry is often about economy of language—it relies heavily on the implicit rather than explicit; the meaning must be derived, which is an extra step from reading (most, not all) prose. Because of this extra step, there is necessarily a larger diversity of interpretation.

Because symbols and metaphors are not exact sciences, and in some cases could mean any number of things. For instance, some people will see a snake and forever think of it’s image in the Bible as a symbol of Satan, or any manner of dastardly things such as, “death, destruction, evil, a penetrating legless essence, and/or poison.” But other people may not necessarily make that connection, but instead looks at the snake in a different way; “when intertwined with the tree of life (Christian) it represents good, and it can also be associated with healing and/or rebirth; as it sheds its skin.”

If one person interprets that snake as “evil”, and another interprets is as “good”, who is right?

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one purpose of poetry is to evoke an emotion. The reader therefore may express their reaction; as long as the explanation of the reaction is coherent, it is as valid an opinion as anyone else’s.

Sorry, what do you mean by “determining a poem”? Determining the meaning of the poem?

@Jeruba the meaning and concept

@lapilofu : Lovely and appropriate explanation. GA.

Ambiguity is also an important part of poetry. Analogy is often meant to be universal and many poems look for what is universal about a single theme.

“A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom” said the poet Robert Frost. But one person’s wisdom may differ from another’s and both may be different from what the poet was thinking while he/she wrote. That’s part of the joy of poetry and it adds the richness of discussing it.

Poetry is art. All art is open to different interpretations. Of course, it helps to be educated in the form – you’re more likely to come to a meaningful interpretation that way; but, that’s not to say there isn’t disagreement amongst the experts.

I have asked myself that question. When studying poetry in class, I’ve found just to repeat what the instructor has said in class even though my personal opinion has differed.

I mean shouldn’t the original intent of the author be factored in to the interpretation?