TPCASTT POETRY ANALYSIS EXPLANATION AND ASSIGNMENT Example poem

TPCASTT POETRY ANALYSIS EXPLANATION AND ASSIGNMENT Example poem: “Dreams” by Langston Hughes

WHAT IS TPCASTT? v 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 v T- Title v P- Paraphrase v C- Connotation v A- Attitude v S- Shifts v T- Title v T- Theme

T-TITLE v Examine the title before reading the poem. Consider connotations of the title. Make predictions about what the poem may be about. v “Dreams” ~Langston Hughes

T- EXAMPLE Dreams Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird v The title “Dreams” may be about this speaker’s hopes. That cannot fly. It may be about dreams that Hold fast to dreams occur while one sleeps. The For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow. -Langston Hughes words I think of are: rest, hope, goals, yearning, etc.

P-PARAPHRASE v 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.

P-EXAMPLE Dreams Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold on tight to dreams Because if dreams die Life is like an injured bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow. Hold on tight to dreams Because when dreams are lost Life is like a field with nothing in it -Langston Hughes That is frozen with snow

C-CONNOTATION v 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?

CONNOTATION CONT. LITERARY DEVICES v 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”)

CONNOTATION CONT. POETIC DEVICES v Possible poetic devices include: v 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…)

C-EXAMPLE Dreams Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow. -Langston Hughes v Personification- 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 v Examine the speaker’s and poet’s attitude. The speaker and poet may or may not be one in same.

A-EXAMPLE Dreams Hold fast to dreams v The author’s tone is For if dreams die cautionary and somewhat Life is a broken-winged bird melancholy That cannot fly. v The speaker wants to Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow. -Langston Hughes persevere v There is a tone of warning “if you don’t do this, then this may occur in life” v Authoritative/imperative/giv es advice

S-SHIFTS v Note shifts in tone or structure of the poem.

S-EXAMPLE Dreams Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field v The poem has two full sentences ending in periods and stanzas are broken up into short 3 to 5 word lines. v Stanza 1: tone-melancholy, Frozen with snow. warning but still hopeful -Langston Hughes v Stanza 2: tone-authoritative and more final(less hopeful)

T-TITLE (2 N D TIME) v Examine the title again, this time on an interpretive level.

T-EXAMPLE(2 N D TIME) Dreams Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird v The title is very indicative of what the poem will be That cannot fly. about. The poem is about Hold fast to dreams hopes, dreams and For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow. -Langston Hughes continuing to dream, and the title represents that clearly. Life stops without dreams.

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

T-EXAMPLE Dreams v Plot: The author is telling the Hold fast to dreams audience to keep dreaming For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird because it makes life better and That cannot fly. essentially makes life worth living Hold fast to dreams Subject(s): Dreams/Dreaming, For when dreams go Life, Value Life is a barren field Theme(s): Continuing to dream Frozen with snow. -Langston Hughes will lead to a good life OR Lack of dreaming, or not having dreams, makes life empty or worthless.

TPCASTT STANDS FOR v T- Title – Look at it before you read, what do you think it means? v P- Paraphrase- Put it in your own words (not a summary) v C- Connotation – Look for figurative language (simile, personification etc. ) v A- Attitude – How does the poet or speaker feel about the subject? v S- Shifts - Where does the poem change tone, setting, meter, form etc. v T- Title – Now that you’ve read, what does the title mean? v T- Theme – What is the message that the poet is trying to convey?