TP CASTT

POETRY

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?

PARAPHRASE

What does the poem actually say?

Look up any unknown words.
Summarize each stanza into a
sentence.

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?

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?

SHIFTS

Look for

Transitions
Punctuation
Stanza divisions
Changes in line and/or stanza length
IRONY
Changes in sound
Changes in diction

TITLE

Examine the title on an interpretive

level/beyond the surface
Read between the lines

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_____________.

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?

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?

SUBJECT

The subject of texts are often abstract

The right to die, racism, poverty,

conformity, etc.

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 speakers attitude towards his
subject?
Use your Vocabulary of Attitudes sheet for
reference.