Poetry Analysis Using TPCASTT

English 9

Ms. Spetz

Getting Started…

• This is a process to help you organize your analysis of poetry.

• We have already learned the vocabulary, now it’s time to put it into practice!

• Together, we are going to analyze “Nothing Gold Can Stay” using TPCASTT.

• You have a note sheet that looks like this…

Add your analysis of “Nothing Gold Can Stay” to

this sheet!

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.• The next step is often omitted, but it is the

most important!!!!

READ THE

POEM!!!!

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.

C is for CONNOTATION

• Analyze the figures of speech and sound effects of the poem.

• These are the poetry vocabulary you have already studied.

• These elements add to the meaning.

A is for ATTITUDE

• Tone is the attitude of the speaker toward the subject of the poem.

Sample Tone Words• Forthright-directly frank without hesitation

• Gloomy-darkness, sadness, rejection

• Fanciful-using the imagination

• Haughty-may-proud and vain to the point of arrogance

• Indignant-marked by anger aroused by injustice

• Intimate-very familiar

• Judgmental-authoritative and often critical opinion

• Jovial-happy

• Lyrical-expressing a poet’s inner feeling; emotional; full of images, song-like

• Matter-of-fact-accepting of conditions; not fanciful or emotional

• Mocking-treating with contempt or ridicule

• Morose-gloomy, sullen, surly, despondent

• Malicious-purposely hurtful

• Caustic-intense use of sarcasm; stinging; biting

• Conventional-lacking spontaneity, originality and individuality

• Disdainful-scornful

• Didactic-author attempts to educate or instruct the reader

• Objective-an unbiased view

• Optimistic-hopeful; cheerful

• Obsequious-polite and obedient only for hope of gaining favor

• Patronizing-air of condescension

• Pessimistic-seeing the worst side of things

• Quizzical-odd, eccentric, amusing

• Ribald-offensive in speech, gesture

• Reverent-treating a subject with honor and respect

• Ridiculing-slightly contemptuous banter

• Accusatory-charging of wrong doing

• Apathetic-indifferent in energy or concern

• Awe-solemn wonder

• Bitter-exhibiting strong animosity as a result of pain or grief

• Cynical-questions the basic sincerity and goodness of people

• Condescension/ing- a feeling of superiority

• Callous-unfeeling, insensitive to feeling of others

• Contemplative-studying, thinking, reflecting on an issue

• Critical-finding fault

• Choleric-hot tempered; easily angered

• Contemptuous Derisive-ridiculing, mocking

• Earnest-intense and sincere state of mind

• Erudite-learned, polished, scholarly

• Reflective-illustrating innermost

• Sarcastic-sneering, caustic

• Sardonic-scornfully and bitterly sarcastic

• Sincere-without deceit or pretense; genuine

• Solemn-deeply earnest, grove

• Sanguineous-optimistic, cheerful

• Whimsical-odd, queer, fantastic

• Allusive- having reference to something implied or inferred; symbolic, figurative

• Angry- irritated or annoyed, upset

• Apologetic- asking forgiveness, contrite, sorry, repentant

• Arrogant-feeling of personal superiority, conceited, haughty, egotistical, big-headed

• Audacious-confidence to try anything, brave, bold daring, foolhardy, risky

• Bantering- an exchange of light, playful, teasing remarks; good-natured raillery

• Boring- lacking in spirit, lack luster, tedious, dull dreary, uninteresting

• Burlesque- ludicrous parody or grotesque caricature; humorous or provocative stage show

• Candid-frank; outspoken; open and sincere; free from reservation; honest

• Childish-puerile, weak, silly; befitting a child

• Chilling-likely to cause a chill; physically, emotionally, or socially cold

• Clinical-extremely objective and realistic; dispassionately analytic, unemotionally critical

• Cold- feeling an uncomfortable lack of warmth; lacking in passion, emotion, enthusiasm, or ardor

• Compassionate-feeling of deep sympathy /sorrow for one who is stricken with misfortune; wish to alleviate

More Tone Words• Complimentary-the nature of , conveying, expressing praise often

that is flattering• Confident-having strong belief of full assurance; sure of oneself• Confused-• Contentious- tending to argument or strife or controversy• Depressing• Detached-impartial or objective; disinterested; unbiased; not involved

or concerned; aloof• Diffident-lacking confidence in one’s own ability, worth, or fitness;

timid; shy• Disdainful-full of scorn• Dramatic-highly effective or striking• Dreamy-soothing; restful; quieting; visionary• Effusive-unduly demonstrative; lacking reserve; pouring out;

overflowing • Elegiac-mournful, melancholic, or plaintive• Facetious-not meant to be taken seriously or literally; amusing;

humorous; lacking serious intent• Factual-based on truth• Flippant-frivolous disrespect, shallow, lacking seriousness;

characterized by levity• Foreboding-strong inner feeling or notion of a future misfortune,

evil; presentiment; portent; omen• Frightening-fearful, terrifying, scare• Frivolous-lack of seriousness or sense; self indulgent or carefree; no

weight, worth or importance• Funereal-mournful, gloomy, dismal• Giddy-frivolous and lighthearted; impulsive; flighty; causing

dizziness

• Gleeful-full of exultant joy; merry; delighted• Happy-delighted, pleased or glad; indicative of pleasure, contentment

or joy• Hilarious-arousing great merriment; boisterously merry or cheerful• Hallow-make holy or sanctify; consecrate; to honor; venerate or

consider sacred-• Horrific-causing great fear, fright or terror• Hostile-antagonistic, opposed in feeling, enemy, unfriendly to the

point of anger• Humorous-• Hyperbolic-exaggeration• Impartial-unbiased, fair, just• Incisive-remarkably clear and direct; penetrating; cutting; biting

trenchant• Indignant-feelings expressing strong displeasure; something

considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base• Inflammatory-tending to arouse anger, hostility, passion• Informative-instructive, didactic • Insipid-without distinctive, interesting, or stimulating qualities; vapid

or bland• Insolent-boldly rude or disrespectful; insulting• Ironic-coincidental; unexpected; occurrence of something that is

opposite of expectation• Irreverent-disrespectful; deficient in veneration• Irritating-annoying; provoking• Learned- having much knowledge; scholarly; erudite; acquired by

experience• Lugubrious-mournful, dismal, gloomy especially in an affected

exaggerated or unrelieved manner

More Tone Words Still!!• Macabre-gruesome and horrifying; ghastly, horrible; of pertaining to

or dealing with death especially its grimmer or uglier aspect• Malevolent-wishing evil or harm to another; showing ill will;

malicious• Melancholic-disposed or affected with gloom• Melodramatic-exaggerated and emotional or sentimental; sensational

or sensationalized• Mock-heroic-form of satire which trivial subjects, characters, and

events are treated in a ceremonious manner with elevated language and elaborate devices characteristic of the heroic style.

• Mocking-to attack or treat with ridicule, contempt, or derision; to ridicule with mimicry of action or speech

• Moralistic-regulating the values or beliefs of others• Nostalgic-experiencing/exhibiting sentimental/ wistful yearning for

happiness of a former place, time, situation• Objective-not influenced by personal feelings, interpretations, or

prejudice; based on facts; unbiased• Ominous-portending evil or harm; foreboding; threatening;

inauspicious• Oppressive-burdensome, unjustly harsh, or tyrannical• Patronizing-condescending, demeaning, belittling, superior• Peaceful-• Pedantic-ostentatious in one’s learning; overly concerned with

minute details especially in teaching• Petty-little or no importance or consequence; having or showing

narrow ideas, interests• Pitiful-evoking or deserving contempt by smallness, poor quality• Pleasant-agreeable, enjoyable• Poignant-keenly distressing to the feelings; keen or strong mental or

emotional appeal

• Pretentious-making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious• Proud –feeling pleasure or satisfaction over something honorable;

having high opinions of oneself• Restrained-holding back, controlling, or checking ones thinking or

emotions; deprived of liberty• Satiric-The use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule in exposing denouncing or

deriding vice• Scornful-derisive or contemptuous; disapproving or sneering• Self-righteous-confident in one’s own beliefs, especially when

smugly moralistic and intolerant of the opinions and behavior of others.

• Sentimental –weakly emotional; mawkishly susceptible or tender• Sharp-having a thin cutting edge or fine point; abrupt, as an ascent;

sudden or abrupt change in direction• Shocking- causing intense surprise, disgust, horror• Somber-gloomy dark, dimly lighted; dark dull; depressing or dismal• Sympathetic-looking upon with favor; special affinity or mutual

relationship• Taunting- to reproach in a sarcastic, insulting, or jeering manner;

mock• Tired-weary or bored; hackneyed; stale; exhausted by exertion• Tragic-extremely mournful, melancholy or pathetic; dreadful,

calamitous• Unnerving-deprive of courage, strength, determination or confidence• Uproarious-tumultuous; very funny or loud person; confused or

noisy assembly• Urgent-compelling or requiring immediate action or attention;

imperative; pressing; insistent• Vexed-irritated; annoyed• Vibrant-pulsating with vigor and energy; vigorous; energetic; vital• Wry-distortion or lopsided facial features; contrary perverse;

distorted or perverted

S is for SHIFT

• If there is a change in…– Time– Tone– Speaker– TopicThis should always

be noted as this will also affect the meaning.

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?

• Next, the biggie….

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.

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?