1. Poetry Analysis
TPIRDASTT

2. TPIRDASTT
TPIRDASTT is an acronym. That means it is an abbreviation for the format for poetry analysis.

3. TPIRDASTT T – Title P- Paraphrase I – Initial Reflection
R – Rhyme/Rhythm/Poetic type
D – Devices/Syntax
A – Attitude (Tone) Explanation
S – Shift
T – Thematic Statement
T- Thoughts (Final)

4. TPIRDASTT
T – Title
Speculate, wonder, think about what the subject of the poem might be based on the title.

5. TPIRDASTT P - Paraphrase
Before you can think about meaning or analysis, you must understand the literal meaning of the poem.
Write the poem in your own words. Spelling, grammar, or any other convention doesn’t matter.
This can be done in a note format.
Break the poem up in a way that makes sense for you. Don’t do it line by line.

6. TPIRDASTT I - Initial Reflection
Write a reflection of the poem. Write what you think the poem is really about.
You are “thinking out loud” on paper. Attempting to reach a “light bulb” moment.

7. TPIRDASTT R- Rhyme/Rhythm/Type of Poem
Look for rhyme and rhyme scheme.
I’ll provide you with a chart for Poem Type and Rhyme Type.

8. TPIRDASTT D – Devices/Syntax
You will be very comfortable here…. This is what you think of when you hear poetry analysis.

9. TPIRDASTT
Once you get to this stage, you have analyzed tone on a rhetorical level.

10. TPIRDASTT A – Attitude (Tone) or Mood
Here you will find the relationship between words and emotions.

11. TPIRDASTT Use this step by step process: Identify charged words.
Label these words as positive, negative, or neutral.
Divide the words into groups that express the same emotion (keep them in the order they appear in the poem).
Briefly explain why those words make up a group.

12. TPIRDASTT Attitude/Tone/Mood (continued)
Use the “Tone Vocabulary Sheet” and search for a term that best expresses the emotion that the word groups convey.
Draw lines where the emotion changes.
Write an explanation of why the emotion changed.

13. THEME

14. TPIRDASTT T – Thoughts (Final)
Re-visit your Initial reflection. Were you correct?
Make notes of what has changed in your understanding since making the initial reflection.

15. TPIRDASTT
You’re done!!!!!
You have successfully analyzed your first poem.
If required, at this point you would write an essay explaining your analysis.