TTPPCCAASSTTTTPoetry Analysis TechniquePoetry Analysis Technique

““I Died for Beauty”I Died for Beauty”By Emily DickinsonBy Emily Dickinson

Title

Paraphrase

Connotation

Attitude

Shifts

Title (again)

Theme of the poem

What SHOULD your poem look

like after you have finished

TPCASTTing it?

T -- TitleT -- Title Read the title of the poemRead the title of the poem

Predict what the poem will be about Predict what the poem will be about based on the title ONLYbased on the title ONLY

Do not begin reading the poem yetDo not begin reading the poem yet

Write 3-4 sentences about your Write 3-4 sentences about your predictionprediction

T -- TitleT -- TitleI died because I was obsessed with beauty? I died because I was obsessed with beauty?

I looked at someone or something so I looked at someone or something so beautiful itbeautiful it

caused my death?caused my death?

Was a beauty queen murdered?Was a beauty queen murdered?

P – ParaphraseP – Paraphrase

Translate the poem into your own words, Translate the poem into your own words, line by line if possible.line by line if possible.

Be sure to paraphrase using completeBe sure to paraphrase using completesentences. sentences.

On average, you should have On average, you should have approximatelyapproximately

one paragraph per stanza.one paragraph per stanza.

(Next slide)(Next slide)

P – ParaphraseP – ParaphraseYour TurnYour Turn

Paraphrase this poem, line by line orParaphrase this poem, line by line or

stanza by stanza. Keep in mind that stanza by stanza. Keep in mind that itit

must be a COMPLETE translation.must be a COMPLETE translation.

You must understand the poet’s literalYou must understand the poet’s literal

meaning of the words.meaning of the words.

P – ParaphraseP – ParaphraseFirst StanzaFirst Stanza

A first person speaker has recently died andA first person speaker has recently died and

been laid to rest in a tomb. She obviouslybeen laid to rest in a tomb. She obviously

comes from a well-to-do family because hercomes from a well-to-do family because her

final resting spot is a tomb versus a grave. Iffinal resting spot is a tomb versus a grave. If

she died for beauty, what kind of stand wasshe died for beauty, what kind of stand was

she taking (inner beauty, art, history)? she taking (inner beauty, art, history)? ShortlyShortly

after being laid to rest, another person, whoafter being laid to rest, another person, who

died for truth, was placed in a neighboringdied for truth, was placed in a neighboring

room.room.

P – ParaphraseP – ParaphraseSecond StanzaSecond Stanza

Sensing her presence, the new soul gently asksSensing her presence, the new soul gently askswhat led to her death. She responds, “Beauty,”what led to her death. She responds, “Beauty,”and he replies back that he died for truth. Heand he replies back that he died for truth. Hethen states, “the two are one,” leading thethen states, “the two are one,” leading thereader to believe that standing up for your valuesreader to believe that standing up for your valuesand principles are sometimes more importantand principles are sometimes more importantthan life itself. He also says that they are alikethan life itself. He also says that they are alikebecause they both were willing to sacrifice theirbecause they both were willing to sacrifice theirlives for their values.lives for their values.

P – ParaphraseP – ParaphraseThird StanzaThird Stanza

The two quickly realize they are like souls. TheyThe two quickly realize they are like souls. They

continue to talk and form a friendship in thecontinue to talk and form a friendship in the

afterlife until the weeds cover their lips and theirafterlife until the weeds cover their lips and their

tomb. By that time, their families, friends, andtomb. By that time, their families, friends, and

society have forgotten about them as individuals.society have forgotten about them as individuals.

In addition, their purpose for failing, or dieing,In addition, their purpose for failing, or dieing,

has also been forgotten. Meaning nothing hashas also been forgotten. Meaning nothing has

changed and they died in vain.changed and they died in vain.

C -- ConnotationC -- Connotation

Look for poetic devices that go beyond the Look for poetic devices that go beyond the literal interpretationliteral interpretation– metaphor, simile, personification, metaphor, simile, personification,

alliteration, onomatopoeia, rhythm, rhyme alliteration, onomatopoeia, rhythm, rhyme scheme, symbolism, and dictionscheme, symbolism, and diction

Circle these devices and make margin notes Circle these devices and make margin notes about their meaningsabout their meanings

In this specific poem, you should be able to In this specific poem, you should be able to identify and explain at least three poetic identify and explain at least three poetic devicesdevices

C -- ConnotationC -- Connotation

Extended MetaphorExtended Metaphor – throughout the – throughout theentire poem Beauty and Truth are beingentire poem Beauty and Truth are beingcomparedcompared

PersonificationPersonification – Giving human – Giving human characteristicscharacteristics

to inanimate objectsto inanimate objects Her = Beauty / Him = TruthHer = Beauty / Him = Truth

ABCBABCB near rhyme scheme near rhyme scheme

A -- AttitudeA -- Attitude

Observe either the speaker’s or the Observe either the speaker’s or the poet’s attitude poet’s attitude

Attitude and tone are synonymsAttitude and tone are synonyms Attitude is an adjectiveAttitude is an adjective There can be more than oneThere can be more than one

Explain the attitude/tone of the Explain the attitude/tone of the poempoem

A -- AttitudeA -- Attitude

SAD and SOMBER regarding death,SAD and SOMBER regarding death,

graveyard, and their failuresgraveyard, and their failures

CONTENTMENT due to the fact that CONTENTMENT due to the fact that theythey

discover that they both died standing discover that they both died standing upup

for what was important to themfor what was important to them

S -- ShiftS -- Shift

Identify any speaker shiftsIdentify any speaker shifts

Identify any shifts in attitudeIdentify any shifts in attitude

S -- ShiftS -- Shift

There is one speaker shift in the third stanza.There is one speaker shift in the third stanza.

There are two speakers who continue their There are two speakers who continue their dialogue back and forth in the first two dialogue back and forth in the first two stanzas and refer to themselves as “I.”stanzas and refer to themselves as “I.”

However, in the last stanza, they begin However, in the last stanza, they begin referring to themselves as “we” and “our.”referring to themselves as “we” and “our.”

T – Title (again)T – Title (again)

Re-examine the title. Re-examine the title.

How does the title fit with the How does the title fit with the work as a whole? work as a whole?

This time, you are interpreting the This time, you are interpreting the title, not just predicting or looking title, not just predicting or looking at it literally.at it literally.

T – Title (again)T – Title (again)

“ “I Died for Beauty”I Died for Beauty”

We don’t know specifically what aspectWe don’t know specifically what aspectof beauty led to her death, but we knowof beauty led to her death, but we knowit was a cause she was willing to dieit was a cause she was willing to diefor.for.We don’t even know specifically how sheWe don’t even know specifically how shedied.died.

T -- ThemeT -- Theme

Determine what the poet is sayingDetermine what the poet is saying

THIS IS NOT THE MORAL OF THE POEMTHIS IS NOT THE MORAL OF THE POEM

Identify the theme by recognizing the Identify the theme by recognizing the human experience, motivation, or human experience, motivation, or condition of the poem.condition of the poem.

One work may have several possible One work may have several possible themesthemes

T -- ThemeT -- Theme

Beauty and Truth are ParallelsBeauty and Truth are ParallelsEach speaker died for ideals Each speaker died for ideals

(Beauty/Truth)(Beauty/Truth)

Each speaker is buried is similar Each speaker is buried is similar conditions and within the same tombconditions and within the same tomb

Each speaker dies and decays at about Each speaker dies and decays at about the same timethe same time

Both names are covered with the same Both names are covered with the same mossmoss

T -- ThemeT -- Theme

FriendshipFriendshipThe two speakers bond as friends because The two speakers bond as friends because

they have similar causes and valuesthey have similar causes and values

Postmortem friendship makes a scary Postmortem friendship makes a scary situation more bearablesituation more bearable

However, their bond is broken with the However, their bond is broken with the passage of time (i.e. moss reaches their passage of time (i.e. moss reaches their lips, and their names are covered)lips, and their names are covered)

Title

Paraphrase

Connotation

Attitude

Shifts

Title (again)

Theme of the poem

What does YOUR poem look like

now that you have finished

TPCASTTing it?