Screencast TPCASTT Lesson

Poetry
Analysis

TPCASTT

What is
TPCASTT

?

First...

What is the historical
context of when the poem
was written (1919)? Where
did Yeats live? What was
going on there at that time?

Title

Let’s look at the title.
Make a prediction about
what you think the poem

will be about.



Paraphrase

What is this stanza saying,
literally?



Paraphrase

What is this stanza saying,
literally?

Work with a partner to
paraphrase this stanza.



Connotation

This involves looking at words that
might have multiple meanings and

trying to determine if there is a
meaning beyond the literal that lies
beneath the surface of the poem.



Attitude

involves determining the tone and
emotions associated with the

subject. What sort of attitude does
the speaker take toward the

subject? What words/lines show
you this?

Shift

Many poems involve a shift in
tone. Next, examine the poem to
see if you can detect a shift, and if
so, where it occurs, what kind of
shift it is, and how it changes the

direction and meaning of the
poem.

Title

After examining the poem, return
to the title again. Are there any
new insights about the title after

you have read the poem?

Theme

The final step is determining the
theme. What greater message did
the poet hope to convey? Why did
he/she pick up the pen? (Historical

context can guide you)