TWIST Poetry Analysis method Cornell Notes
How can we learn to understand and appreciate poetry? Essential Questions: How can we learn to understand and appreciate poetry? How can correct analysis of poetry help with understanding and interpretation?
TWIST TWIST is a method of poetry analysis. Each letter of “TWIST” stands for something different that you should analyze about the poem that you read.
T Title Read the title and stop. Predict what the poem will be about based only on the title.
Read the poem.
W What is it about? Paraphrase each LINE of the poem. Don’t interpret it, just tell it in your own words.
I Imagery Look for any imagery and word choice the author uses. Imagery refers to sense impressions – sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell.
S Style and Structure Identify any additional examples of poetic language / figurative language – metaphor, simile, symbols, personification, rhyme, repetition, onomatopoeia, alliteration, etc. *Identify the structure of the poem itself also. ** A poem will probably not have all of these elements but will have some.**
T Theme Look at the title again from an interpretive level. Do you see anything new? What is/are the subject(s) of the poem? Determine what the poet is saying about each of the subjects and write it in a complete sentence. This is your theme.
“Dreams” by Langston Hughes Make the following table in your INB on page 18 It should take up the whole page. T W I S Title: “Dreams” by Langston Hughes
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
What is it about? Hold on to your dreams because if they die, life isn’t going to be good.
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
“broken-winged bird” “barren field” “frozen with snow” Imagery: “broken-winged bird” “barren field” “frozen with snow”
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
Style and structure personification “dreams die” metaphor “life is a broken-winged bird” “life is a barren field” end rhyme die/fly; go/snow repetition “hold fast to dreams” 2 stanzas 8 lines
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
theme: What is the main idea/lesson? What does the author discuss? Continuing to dream will lead to a more satisfying life. The lack of dreaming makes life empty.
Summarize your notes On the bottom of page 19!