1. TP CASTT
POETRY

2. TITLE What are the words in the title?
Are there any hints as to the subject of the poem?
Speculate on what the poem might be about?

3. Paraphrase What does the poem actually say? Look up any unknown words.
Summarize each stanza into a sentence.

4. CONNOTATION What poetic devices are used?
How do these devices contribute to the meaning of the poem?
Consider
Imagery,
Figurative language (metaphor, personification, simile, symbolism)
Diction – word choice
Point of view
Sound devices (alliteration, onomatopoeia, rhythm, and rhyme)
What is the effect of these techniques?

5. ATTITUDE (TONE)
Tone is the attitude of the speaker toward his subject and audience.
Who is the speaker?
What is the subject?
There is often a duality in tone such as sad and serious.
Think in terms of shades of meaning.
If the speaker conveys an angry tone, is the shade of anger furious, livid, steamed, mad, or upset?

6. SHIFTS Look for Transitions Punctuation Stanza divisions
Changes in line and/or stanza length
IRONY
Changes in sound
Changes in diction

7. TITLE Examine the title on an interpretive level/beyond the surface
Read between the lines

8. THEME What is the subject?
What is the speaker saying about this subject?
What is the poet asserting about life, issues, or the human condition?
State the theme in a complete sentence:
The poet/speaker asserts that_____________.

9. Audience Who is the intended audience?
Whose attention does the speaker seek to gain?
Who is the writer speaking to?
Is it a general audience?
Specific audience?

10. Purpose
Think about the modes of writing and purposes behind those modes.
Authors write to entertain, to inform, to persuade, to critique, to complain, to explain, to reflect, to describe
Sometimes to simply reveal the truth.
Often writers have a dual purpose
It is not enough to say to inform….to inform about what?
To complain about what?
To explain what?

11. Subject The subject of texts are often abstract
The right to die, racism, poverty, conformity, etc.

12. tone
Tone is the attitude of the speaker towards his/her subject and audience
Who is the speaker?
What is the subject?
What is the speaker’s attitude towards his subject?
Use your Vocabulary of Attitudes sheet for reference.