1. Poetry Analysis Using TPCASTT
Adapted from
and lecture notes from AP Certificated program
All animated gifs from presentermedia.com unless stated otherwise

2. TPCASTT & Poetry

3. STOP! Don’t read ahead yet!
We must first only look at the title!

4. T is for TITLE Analyze the title first.
What do you predict this poem will be about?
Write down your predictions.
We will reflect on the title again after we have read the poem.

5. T is for TITLE: Let’s Look at the example poem
You may pick any example poem you wish. For this project, I chose a dada genre poem. See the poetry examples provided in the unit resources under this lesson.

6. P is for PARAPHRASE
Paraphrasing is putting something in your own words.
After reading the poem, rewrite it in your own words.
This may be three sentences or a page, depending on the particular poem.

7. P is for PARAPHRASE: Let’s look at our example poem

8. C is for CONNOTATION
apostrophe
Analyze the figures of speech and sound effects of the poem.
These elements add to the meaning, imagery and aesthetics.
ASSONANCE
alliteration
RHYME
diction
personification
onomatopoeia
simile
implied metaphor
meter
HYPERBOLE
direct metaphor

9. C is for CONNOTATION: Let’s Look at our example poem
apostrophe
Analyze the figures of speech and sound effects of the poem.
These elements add to the meaning, imagery and aesthetics.
ASSONANCE
alliteration
RHYME
diction
personification
onomatopoeia
simile
implied metaphor
meter
HYPERBOLE
direct metaphor

10. A is for ATTITUDE Attitude =Tone
is the attitude of the speaker toward the subject of the poem.

11. A is for ATTITUDE Tone terms:
valenciacollege.edu/east/.../eap/.../tonewords.pdf

12. A is for ATTITUDE Tone example: What word(s) give a clue?
Robert Frost’s “The Road not Taken”
But “sigh” could have many tones.
What do you think?
“I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”

13. A is for ATTITUDE: Let’s look at our example poem

14. S is for SHIFT If there is a change in… Time Tone Speaker
This should always be noted as this will also affect the meaning.
There can be multiple shifts too!

15. S is for SHIFT: Let’s look at our example poem
If there is a change in…
Time
Tone
Speaker
This should always be noted as this will also affect the meaning.

16. T is for TITLE (again) At this time, you should reconsider the title.
Were you right in your predictions?
What other meanings might the title have in light of your analysis?

17. T is for TITLE (again): Let’s look at our example poem
At this time, you should reconsider the title.
Were you right in your predictions?
What other meanings might the title have in light of your analysis?
Next, the biggie….

18. T is for THEME
As you already know, theme is the general insight into life conveyed by the author through his/her work.
It does not make a judgment.
example: “Don’t do drugs” is not a theme.
It merely states something that is true to life and the human condition.

19. How do I find the THEME? Look at the other parts of TPCASTT.
What insight are all of these working together to convey?
What is the poet trying to say about life?

20. T is for THEME: Let’s look at our example poem

21. Quick Check! What does TPCASTT stand for? Tell a neighbor
Now tell another neighbor

22. Let’s Try One
In groups of 3, fill out the TPCASTT chart as best you can with a new Dada poem.

23. Let’s Compare Notes: Swap and find another team of 3 (no same members)
In groups of 3 again, compare what your first group thought about the poem.
Discuss any similarities or differences you have.
Try to come to a consensus on the theme.

24. Ticket Out the Door
On a scratch of paper,write down what step you had the most difficulty with.
Explain why you think so, too.