TPCASTT - Poetry Analysis Explanation and assignment Example poem: “Dreams” by Langston Hughes

What is TPCASTT? 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 T- Title P- Paraphrase C- Connotation A- Attitude S- Shifts T- Theme

TPCASTT example poem 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

T-Title Examine the title before reading the poem. Consider connotations of the title. Make predictions about what the poem may be about. Write down your predictions. You will reflect on the title again after reading the poem.

T- 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 The title “Dreams” may be about this speaker’s hopes. It may be about dreams that occur while one sleeps. The words I think of are: rest, hope, goals, yearning, etc.

P-Paraphrase Paraphrasing is putting something in your own words. 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 depending on the length of the poem.

P- Paraphrase Example Hold on tight to dreams Because if dreams die 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 Hold on tight to dreams Because if dreams die Life is like an injured bird That cannot fly. Because when dreams are lost Life is like a field with nothing in it That is frozen with snow

C-Connotation Examine the poem for meaning beyond the literal. Look for 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. Poetic Devices Possible devices include: Alliteration, Consonance, Assonance Simile or Metaphor Hyperbole Repetition Allusion Oxymoron Imagery The five senses Point of view Rhyme or Rhyme Scheme Remember, these are only suggestions. Use your poetic devices handout to search for other fitting devices.

C- Example 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 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

A-Attitude Examine the speaker’s and poet’s attitude towards the theme or topic. The speaker and poet may or may not be one in same.

A- Example The author’s tone is cautionary and somewhat melancholy 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 The author’s tone is cautionary and somewhat melancholy The speaker wants to persevere There is a tone of warning “if you don’t do this, then this may occur in life” Authoritative / imperative / gives advice

S-shifts Note shifts in tone or structure of the poem. Is there a sudden change in the attitude of the speaker?

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 Frozen with snow. -Langston Hughes The poem has two full sentences ending in periods and stanzas are broken up into short 3 to 5 word lines. Stanza 1: tone- melancholy, warning but still hopeful Stanza 2: tone- authoritative and more final(less hopeful)

T-title (2nd time) Examine the title again, this time on an interpretive level. Use what you have observed from your analysis of the connotation, attitude, and shifts.

T-Example(2nd time) 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 The title is very indicative of what the poem will be about. The poem is about hopes, dreams and continuing to dream, and the title represents that clearly. Life stops without dreams.

T-theme 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 Plot: The author is telling the audience to keep dreaming because it makes life better and essentially makes life worth living Subject(s): Dreams/Dreaming, Life, Value Theme(s): Continuing to dream will lead to a good life Lack of dreaming, or not having dreams, makes life empty or worthless. 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