1. TPCASTT Poetry ANALYSIS Explanation and assignment
Example poem: “Dreams” by Langston Hughes

2. 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.

3. TPCASTT stands for T- Title P- Paraphrase C- Connotation A- Attitude
S- Shifts
T- Theme

4. 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

5. T-Title
Examine the title before reading the poem. Consider connotations of the title. Make predictions about what the poem may be about.

6. 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.

7. P-Paraphrase
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.

8. P-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
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

9. C-Connotation
Examine the poem for meaning beyond the literal. Look for literary or 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?

10. Connotation cont. Literary devices
Possible literary devices include:
1. symbolism, 2. simile or metaphor, 3. hyperbole (figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express) or understatement(language that makes something seem less important than it really is)
4. allusion 5. oxymoron 6. irony or sarcasm 7. imagery 8. point of view 9. paradox(situation or statement that appears to be impossible or contradictory but is actually true, either in fact or figurative sense for example: “I who don’t know the secret wrote the line”)

11. Connotation cont. Poetic devices
Possible poetic devices include:
1. alliteration(repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of nonrhyming words or syllables in neighboring words for example: towering, trembling trees); 2. consonance(repetition of consonant sounds at the ends of nonrhyming words or stressed syllables for example: morning in the barn);
3. assonance(repetition of same or similar vowel sounds for example: dreaming of wheat fields) 4. rhyme; 5. rhyme scheme (pattern of end rhyme for example: ABBA, ABABCC…)

12. C-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
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

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

14. A-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 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

15. S-shifts
Note shifts in tone or structure of the poem.

16. 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)

17. T-title (2nd time)
Examine the title again, this time on an interpretive level.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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
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 OR Lack of dreaming, or not having dreams, makes life empty or worthless.