In order to develop an outline for an analysis of a poem, you should first read the poem through at least twice. As you read the poem, you should jot down notes and your own observations about different aspects of the poem. For example, you may notice that the length of the lines. Your notes may also include information about the kind of feelings that the poem evokes in you, the reader. The kind of feelings that the poem help to create the poem's tone or atmosphere. A poem's diction, rhyme, meter and other elements all work together to produce a certain effect. Your notes and observations should briefly describe the effect that these various aspects of the poem produce for you.
Using your notes, you can now develop your thesis statement. The thesis statement is your main argument about the poem; it should say something about your interpretation of the poem. The thesis statement is the foundation of your analysis, and the purpose of rest of the essay is to prove or provide support to your thesis. Educator Autumn Hamilton suggests an ideal thesis statement, “In his poem, 'The Raven,' Edgar Allan Poe uses the literary devices of rhyme, repetition, alliteration and mood to create a dark and disturbing picture in the mind of his readers.”
Now that you have your notes and the thesis statement, you can proceed to putting together the first part of the outline: the introduction and supporting paragraphs. An Introduction contains the name of the author, the title of the poem, a brief summary of the plot and your thesis statement. Supporting paragraphs provide support and justification for your thesis. The outline about Edgar Allan Poe's poem “The Raven” might have four supporting paragraphs, each focused on a different literary device mentioned in your thesis.
After you complete an outline of the introduction and the supporting paragraphs, you can then complete the outline by adding citations and a conclusion. In your discussion of the rhyme scheme of “The Raven," within the first supporting paragraph, you should cite examples of particular rhymes that help establish the poem’s tone. The last part of the outline should be the conclusion. In this section, you should restate your thesis and summarize your support for each part of your argument.