The Art of the Title

Your title is your reader's first impression. It sets tone, context, and expectation. "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" isn't subtle—it announces the poem's argument, which works because the poem IS that argument, relentlessly.

Titles can be literal, metaphorical, questions, or provocative. "Prufrock" is a name—it makes readers curious. Eliot doesn't explain; he promises. Never use "Untitled" or generic words. Every choice matters. If your poem is about grief but you title it "Morning," the juxtaposition creates irony.

Write ten titles for your poem. Pick the one that makes someone want to read it without explaining what it's about.