TP-CASTT Poetry Analysis

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

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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, bigheaded 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 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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Complimentary-the nature of , conveying, expressing praise often that is flattering Confident-having strong belief of full assurance; sure of oneself ConfusedContentious- 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

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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 sacredHorrific-causing great fear, fright or terror Hostile-antagonistic, opposed in feeling, enemy, unfriendly to the point of anger HumorousHyperbolic-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!! • • • • •

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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 PeacefulPedantic-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

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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 – Topic This 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?