Close Reading Fable Analysis of "The Raven and the Swan" by Aesop. This story pairs well with the New Year poem "The Old Year" by John Clare. This activity includes a compare/contrast section with the fairy tale, "The Billy Goats Gruff". Analyzing poetry is an art. How do you get better at it? Practice. Here is an easy way to teach close reading with self-guided questions that help the student gain understanding of breaking down lines of poetry. This poem covers figurative language, word choice