The greatest difficulty which is experienced in memorizing poetry is
to get from the end of one line to the beginning of the other, or from
one verse to the other. In prose, when you start a paragraph it is not
difficult to follow through to the end, because all of its sentences
are associated in thought. But the new paragraph begins with a new
thought and there is no association between the old thought and the new
one, consequently there is a gap between thoughts across which the mind
does not easily travel.
The natural tendency of the mind is to follow thoughts which are
associated in their ideas. One thought leads to a second which is
suggested by its close relationship to the first. By retracing the
processes you can discover the connecting thought, or bridge, over
which the mind naturally travels in order to connect two unrelated
thoughts.
In memorizing, when coming to the end of a thought, form a bridge
which will connect it and the following thought and thus guide the
mind to the next line or paragraph. This is a most helpful principle
in memorizing either poetry or prose. If you seek for it you can find
some similarity or contrast, a visual association, or some sequence, or
repetition, which can be used as the necessary bridge, or connecting
link between the two lines or paragraphs.
Always connect the last thought, the last word, or phrase of the line,
sentence or paragraph with the first word in the succeeding thought.
The process is much shorter and simpler than its explanation, as you
will learn by practice. Try this plan once or twice and it will be well
nigh impossible for you to memorize without it.