tpcastt poetry analysis explanation and assignment

TPCASTT POETRY ANALYSIS EXPLANATION AND

ASSIGNMENT

Example poem: “Dreams” by Langston Hughes

WHAT IS TPCASTT?

TPCASTT is an acronym that students can use to help analyze and understand the “puzzle” of a poem. I suggest memorizing the acronym so that it can be used on ANY test that requires analysis of poetry.

TPCASTT STANDS FOR

T- Title

P- Paraphrase

C- Connotation

A- Attitude

S- Shifts

T- Title

T- Theme

T-TITLE

Examine the title before reading the poem. Consider connotations of the title. Make predictions about what the poem may be about.

“Dreams” ~Langston Hughes

Dreams

Hold fast to dreamsFor if dreams dieLife is a broken-winged birdThat cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreamsFor when dreams goLife is a barren fieldFrozen with snow.

-Langston Hughes

T- EXAMPLE

The title “Dreams” may be about this speaker’s hopes. It may be about dreams that occur while one sleeps. The words I think of are: rest, hope, goals, yearning, etc.

P-PARAPHRASE

Translate the poem into your own words. You could do this line by line(as I have done on the next slide) or stanza by stanza.

Dreams



-Langston Hughes

P-EXAMPLE

Hold on tight to dreams

Because if dreams die

Life is like an injured bird

That cannot fly.

Hold on tight to dreams

Because when dreams are lost

Life is like a field with nothing in it

That is frozen with snow

C-CONNOTATION

Examine the poem for meaning beyond the literal. Look for literary or poetic devices. Annotate the poem or take notes. After finding examples, answer the following questions: “Are there any connections between what the poet is saying and the devices he/she chose to use?” and “What was the purpose behind using those devices?

CO N NO TATION CO NT. L ITER ARY DEVICES

Possible literary devices include:

1. symbolism, 2. simile or metaphor, 3. hyperbole (figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express) or understatement(language that makes something seem less important than it really is)

4. allusion 5. oxymoron 6. irony or sarcasm 7. imagery 8. point of view 9. paradox(situation or statement that appears to be impossible or contradictory but is actually true, either in fact or figurative sense for example: “I who don’t know the secret wrote the line”)

C O N N O TAT I O N C O N T. P O E T I C D E V I C E S

Possible poetic devices include:1. alliteration(repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of nonrhyming words or syllables in neighboring words for example: towering, trembling trees); 2. consonance(repetition of consonant sounds at the ends of nonrhyming words or stressed syllables for example: morning in the barn);

3. assonance(repetition of same or similar vowel sounds for example: dreaming of wheat fields) 4. rhyme; 5. rhyme scheme (pattern of end rhyme for example: ABBA, ABABCC…)

Dreams



-Langston Hughes

C-EXAMPLEPersonification- dreams die, dreams go; Metaphor- life is a broken winged bird, life is a barren field; Imagery- broken winged bird that cannot fly, barren field frozen with snow; End rhymes- die, fly and go, snow; Repetition- Hold fast to dreams; Rhyme scheme- ABCB, ADED(notice the rhyme scheme matches what the poet wants of us “to hold fast to dreams” which is why he repeats it); Symbolism- broken-winged bird: person wanting freedom, barren field: opportunity, frozen/snow: death

A-ATTITUDE

Examine the speaker’s and poet’s attitude. The speaker and poet may or may not be one in same.

Dreams



-Langston Hughes

A-EXAMPLE

The author’s tone is cautionary and somewhat melancholy

The speaker wants to persevere

There is a tone of warning “if you don’t do this, then this may occur in life”

Authoritative/imperative/gives advice

S-SHIFTS

Note shifts in tone or structure of the poem.

Dreams



-Langston Hughes

S-EXAMPLE

The poem has two full sentences ending in periods and stanzas are broken up into short 3 to 5 word lines.

Stanza 1: tone-melancholy, warning but still hopeful

Stanza 2: tone-authoritative and more final(less hopeful)

T-TITLE (2ND TIME)

Examine the title again, this time on an interpretive level.

Dreams



-Langston Hughes

T-EXAMPLE(2ND TIME)

The title is very indicative of what the poem will be about. The poem is about hopes, dreams and continuing to dream, and the title represents that clearly. Life stops without dreams.

T-THEME

List the subjects. Then look at your paraphrase. From these, make a sentence telling what point the poet is trying to get across.

Dreams



-Langston Hughes

T-EXAMPLE

Plot: The author is telling the audience to keep dreaming because it makes life better and essentially makes life worth livingSubject(s): Dreams/Dreaming, Life, ValueTheme(s): Continuing to dream will lead to a good life OR Lack of dreaming, or not having dreams, makes life empty or worthless.

TPCASTT STANDS FOR

T- Title – Look at it before you read, what do you think it means?

P- Paraphrase- Put it in your own words (not a summary)

C- Connotation – Look for figurative language (simile, personification etc.)

A- Attitude – How does the poet or speaker feel about the subject?

S- Shifts - Where does the poem change tone, setting, meter, form etc.

T- Title – Now that you’ve read, what does the title mean?

T- Theme – What is the message that the poet is trying to convey?

tpcastt poetry analysis explanation and assignment

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