Using TP-CASTT (poetry analysis)

Using TP-CASTT (poetry analysis)

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Multiple Choice

All poetry has a deeper meaning

TP-CASTT

One way to make finding the meaning in poetry easier is to use TP-CASTT!

T- Title*

• look at the title and make a prediction regarding what the poem might be about

• also look at what the title literally means

• *some poems don't have titles, or are given titles like "sonnet 55". In these cases, you may skip this step.

Multiple Choice

What might a poem titled: "I wandered lonely as a cloud" be about?

• all clouds are lonely

• the speaker of the poem is alone and feeling isolated

• the speaker of the poem is going on an afternoon walk

• the speaker likes clouds

P - paraphrase

• tell the "story" of the poem in your own words

• can be line by line, or complete thought by complete thought

• looking for literal meaning and figuring out any unknown words

Multiple Choice

How might you best paraphrase the following lines of poetry?

The art of losing isn't hard to master;

so many things seemed filled with the intent

to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

• Losing things is an easily mastered artform

• It is easy to get used to losing things when so many things are easy to lose.

• It doesn't matter if you lose things all the time.

• Your belongings get themselves lost on purpose; get used to it.

Multiple Choice

How might you best paraphrase the following song lyrics from "Let Her Go" by Passenger:

Well, you only need the light when it's burning low

Only miss the sun when it starts to snow

• You only realize you need light/heat when you don't have access to it.

• You only miss your loved ones after you push them away

• darkness/winter is terrible

• You never miss what you have until it's too late.

Multiple Choice

How might you best paraphrase the following song lyrics from "All Star" by Smash Mouth

Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me

I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed

• Someone warned me people might try to trip me because I don't have any weapons to defend myself with.

• Because I am not the smartest, life is hard.

• Someone warned me that people would try to trick me because I am naive.

• The world is a cruel and unforgiving place, with no mercy for the ignorant.

C - connotations

• This is looking beyond the literal for any deeper message/meaning

• here you look at figurative language, symbolism, any meaning being effects such as alliteration, repetition etc.

Read this poem and think about what it might mean beyond its literal meaning, also try to spot any figurative language or other devices.

Multiple Select

What devices/figurative language did you see in the poem? Check all that apply

• rhyme

• internal rhyme

• personification

• alliteration

• onomatopoeia

A -attitude

• trying to figure out how the speaker feels about what is being said in the poem

• Remember: Tone vs Mood: Tone and mood are often confused. If tone is the author's attitude toward a subject, then mood is how we are made to feel as readers, or the emotion evoked by the author.

To find the tone, look for:

• Images and how they are presented (in a positive way? In a negative way?) 

• The implications of a statement or story 

• Word choice: words that convey emotion: happiness, joy, rage, sorrow, etc. 

• The very music and rhythms of a poem (how it sounds) 

Read this poem again and see if you can figure out the tone, remember to look for words that convey emotions and positive and negative images.

Multiple Select

What do you think the tone of this poem is? (more than one right answer)

• pessimistic

• regretful/sad

• defiant/proud

• optimistic

S- shift

• Many poems involve a shift in tone and/or subject.*

• This shift can change the ultimate meaning/message of the poem

• *some poems will not have a shift

As I read the poem, try to see if there is a shift in tone or subject and where that shift occurs.

Multiple Choice

Where is the shift in "The Germ"?

• a mighty creature is the germ

  though smaller than the pachyderm

• his customary dwelling place

  is deep within the human race

• his childish pride he often pleases

  by giving people strange diseases

• Do you, my poppet, feel infirm?

  You probably contain a germ

Multiple Choice

Read the following haiku and determine whether or not you think there is a shift.

kaleidoscope —

a child enjoying colors

temporarily

Aljoša Vuković

• yes, there is a shift

• no, there is not a shift

T - title (revisited)

• Are there any new insights about the title after you have read the poem?

• Was your prediction correct? 

T - theme

• What greater message did the poet hope to convey? 

• Why did they write the poem?

• What does the poem say about life?

Think about the figurative language and devices in the poem, think about the tone, and the metaphor, and then try and determine what the theme of the poem is.

Open Ended

What do you think the theme/message of "The Rose that Grew from Concrete" is?