How do I analyze a poem?In terms of the story and other aspects of the poem....literal and otherwise.

There are several ways to take a look at a
poem.

First, read it in it's entirety to get a feel for the
topic. Some poems topics are hard to decipher. Others are
blatantly obvious.

Next, take a look at it's
mood and tone. Try to
determine if it is positive or negative, and beyond that what the specific feeling is
about the poem. Is it happy, sad, apathetic, disgusting, or
disconcerting?

Next, identify literary
elements that you know. Are there similes, metaphors, evidences of
personification, or puns? Are there allusions, or poetic elements that have significance
in terms of meaning.

Next, look at
form. For some reason, every once in a while a poem is set
up according to its meter and rhyme and these features contribute to meaning. In a
sonnet, often the first 8 lines centralize on one topic while the next 6 take it
somewhere else.

Finally, look for a shift in the
theme.  In a sonnet for example, these 8 top lines stay on
a certain issue, and before you know it the next line feels like another stanza all
together. It isn't. It is a shift.

You should also look for
literal and figurative
meanings as you suggest.

Good luck with
poetry!