TPCASTT

TPCASTT: Poem Analysis Method: title, paraphrase, connotation, diction, attitude, tone, shift(s), title revisited and theme
Title Before you even think about reading the
poetry or trying to analyze it, speculate on what you From the title alone, Dickinson may be suggesting she does not fear
think the poem might be about based upon the title.
Often time authors conceal meaning in the title and death despite an encounter with it being inevitable.
give clues in the title. Jot down what you think this
poem will be about…

Paraphrase Before you begin thinking about Since I did not know when death would come upon me, I was shown by death itself. We took a peaceful
meaning or tying to analyze the poem, don't overlook
the literal meaning of the poem. One of the biggest ride in a carriage to lead me to the next stage of everlasting life. The transition was slow and steady like
problems that students often make any other travel by carriage. I saw children at school and beautiful fields outside. Then, the sun passed us
in poetry analysis is jumping to conclusions before as darkness overtook the scene. We approached my final resting place, a house. It was worn down and
understanding what is taking place in the poem. deathly. These memories are from centuries ago, but they are ingrained in my head as if they were
When you paraphrase a poem, write in your own yesterday.
words exactly what happens in the poem. Look at the
number of sentences in the poem—your paraphrase
should have exactly the same number. This
technique is especially helpful for poems written in
the 17th and 19th centuries. Sometimes your teacher
may allow you to summarize what happens in the
poem. Make sure that you understand the difference
between a paraphrase and a summary.

Connotation Although this term usually refers Much of the poem is metaphorical, particularly the idea of the carriage ride to death. Dickinson uses this to depict
solely to the emotional overtones of word choice, for her descent to death as peaceful, slow, and something she feared not. Symbolism is present when she refers to
this approach the term refers to any and all poetic
approaching a house which is truly her grave. This is meant as the grave being a place of final residency or simply
devices, focusing on how such devices contribute to
the meaning, the effect, or both of a poem. You may home. Both death and the sun are greatly personified throughout the poem. All these factors combined make for a
consider imagery, figures of speech (simile, interpretation of Dickinson as calm and composed rather than panicking.
metaphor, personification, symbolism, etc), diction,
point of view, and sound devices (alliteration,
onomatopoeia, rhythm, and rhyme). It is not
necessary that you identify all the poetic devices
within the poem. The ones you do identify should be
seen as a way of supporting the conclusions you are
going to draw about the poem.
Attitude Having examined the poem's devices and
Dickinson’s tone quivers between calm and serene to nostalgic and at a point, dark. The whole poem is about her
clues closely, you are now ready to explore the
multiple attitudes that may be present in the poem. remembering her departure from life and even memories from life, but during the whole experience she was calm,
Examination of diction, images, and details suggests almost curious about death. Once she and the exquisite man known as death arrived at the “house”, she noticed it
the speaker's attitude and contributes to was very run down and sad.
understanding. You may refer to the list of words on
Tone that will help you. Remember that usually the
tone or attitude cannot be named with a single word
Think complexity.

Shift Rarely does a poem begin and end the poetic

experience in the same place. As is true The biggest shift appears to be going from stanza 3 to 4. In this
of most us, the poet's understanding of an experience
is a gradual realization, and the transition, Dickinson figuratively describes herself as, while unafraid,
poem is a reflection of that understanding or insight.
Watch for the following keys to
being unprepared for what is to come. Stanza 3 continues the serene
shifts:
• key words, (but, yet, however, although)
passage through the area, but stanza 4 communicates the light going
• punctuation (dashes, periods, colons, ellipsis) away or death beginning to settle in.
• stanza divisions
• changes in line or stanza length or both
• irony
• changes in sound that may indicate changes in
meaning
• changes in diction
Title revisited Now look at the title again, but
this time on an interpretive level. What new insight After reading the poem, the title seems to be further indicative of
does the title provide in understanding the poem.
Dickinson not being prepared for but still accepting of death.

Theme What is the poem saying about the human

experience, motivation, or condition? What subject One should not fear death as it only marks a new beginning.
or subjects does the poem address? What do you
learn about those subjects? What idea does the poet
want you take away with you concerning these
subjects? Remember that the theme of any work of
literature is stated in a complete sentence.

Name __________________________________________ Title of Poem __________________________________ Period _____ Score _______