Read the poem (duh) Ignore the end of the line Punctuation, obey it. Connect repeated words/images/ideas Underline problematic vocabulary Read the poem again Look for shifts in tone/point of

view/setting

By now you should have a pretty good idea as to what you think the poem is about. Don’t forget to look at the title and format for additional cues.

“But your way has no snappy acronym or graphic organizer” you say.

R.I.P.C.U.R.L isn’t good enough?

OK, then try what the pros recommend…

Not much of an improvement in the acronym department, I know. TPCASTT, however terrible the condensed version sounds, is one of the most widely used methods to dissect poetry. Here’s how it works..

Title Ponder the title before reading the poem

Paraphrase Translate the poem into your own words

  ConnotationContemplate the poem for meaning

beyond the literal  Attitude Observe both the speaker’s and

the poet’s attitude (tone)  Shifts Note shifts in speaker and in attitudes  Title Examine the title again, this time on

an interpretive level  Theme Determine what the poet is

saying 

Speaker: Who is the speaker of the poem? What

do you know about him or her? Occasion: What is the occasion of the poem? What

is the event that prompts the speaker to speak? Audience: To whom is the speaker speaking? What

do you know about him or her? Purpose: What is the purpose of the poem? Why

do you think the poet wrote the poem? Subject: What is the subject of the poem? (This is

a different from "what is the topic of the poem?") tone: What is the tone of the poem? What is the

speaker’s attitude toward the subject of the poem? Theme: What is the theme of the poem? What is

the poet pointing out about people, society, or life? State the theme succinctly.

But, I still need But, I still need more help. more help.

Poems are still Poems are still little blobs of little blobs of

words in another words in another language!language!

Look for: Punctuation Indentations Common words, images Rhyme scheme Shifts in speaker/point of view Imagery

Re-read difficult sections Re-read, ignoring line breaks so it

sounds natural Re-read the beginning and ending to

detect structure (cyclical, progressive, chronological, spatial)

TPCASTT SOAPStone + themeR.i.P.C.U.R.L or Ms. G’s steps

And figure out which strategy or hybrid of strategy works best for you.

Use one of the three strategies on each of the following poems:

“On His Blindness”“The Journey of the Magi”“Sound and Sense”

Re-read and analyze “Snow White and the Seven Deadly Sins” using your favorite strategy. Be ready for discussion with textual evidence.