TP-FASTT Poetry Analysis

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TP-FASTT Poetry Analysis

• a.k.a. a way to figure out what the heck a poem
  might mean

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Getting Started

• This is a process to help you organize your
  analysis of poetry.
• We have already learned the vocabulary that
  applies to poems--now its time to put it into
  practice!

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TP-FASTT
TP-FASTT is an acronym that helps us analyze
poems through seven simple steps (each letter
represents one step of analysis) By looking at
each smaller part individually and then at the
poem altogether, it can help us make some sense
of what the poem might be about! Lets try it
together
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TP-FASTT American Hero

• T
• P
• F
• A
• S
• T
• T

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T is for TITLE

• Analyze the title first.
• PREDICT what this poem will be about?
• Write down your predictions.
• We will reflect on the title again after we have
  read the poem this simple step helps us think
  about what the poet may be implying in their
  titles.

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READ THE POEM!!!!
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American Hero
I have nothing to lose tonight.
All my men surround me, panting,
as I spin the ball above our heads
on my middle finger.
5 Its a shimmering club light
and Im dancing, slick in my sweat.
Squinting, I aim at the hole
fifty feet away. I let the tension go.
Shoot for the net. Choke it.
10 I never hear the ball
slap the backboard. I slam it
through the net. The crowd goes wild
for our win. I scored
thirty-two points this game
15 and they love me for it.
Everyone hollering
is a friend tonight.
But there are towns,
certain neighborhoods
20 where Id be hard pressed
to hear them cheer
if I move on the block.
8
P is for PARAPHRASE

• Paraphrasing is putting something in your own
  words.
• After reading the poem, rewrite it in your own
  words.
• This may be three sentences or a page, depending
  on the particular poem.

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F is for Figurative Language
apostrophe

• Analyze the figures of speech and sound effects
  of the poem.
• These are the poetry vocabulary we have already
  studied.
• These elements add to the meaning, so we need to
  make sure we understand what each one means!

ASSONANCE
alliteration
RHYME
diction
personification
simile
onomatopoeia
implied metaphor
meter
HYPERBOLE
direct metaphor
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A is for ATTITUDE

• Tone is the attitude of the speaker toward the
  subject of the poem. WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU
  UNDERSTAND THE AUTHORs ATTITUDE (TONE) TO BE!

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Attitude/Tone Words
Upset Urgent Complimentary Contemptuous Silly Joki
ng Condescending Happy Boring Poignant Sympathetic
Confused Apologetic Hollow Childish Humorous

• Angry
• Sad
• Afraid
• Cold
• Detached
• Benevolent
• Dreamy
• Shocking
• Candid
• Proud
• Giddy
• Pitiful
• Dramatic
• Provocative
• Sentimental

Joyful Peaceful Horrific Mocking Sarcastic Sweet O
bjective Nostalgic Vexed Vibrant Zealous Tired Fri
volous Irrelevant Bitter
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S is for SHIFT

• If there is a change in
• Time
• Tone
• Speaker
• For example, does it start happy and end sad?
  Does time pass during the poem?
• There may or may not be shifts..

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T is for TITLE (again)

• At this time, you should reconsider the title.
• Were you right in your predictions?
• What other meanings might the title have in light
  of your analysis?
• Next, the biggie.

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T is for THEME

• Theme is the general insight into life conveyed
  by the author through his/her work.
• It does not make a judgment.
• example Dont do drugs is not a theme.
• It merely states something that is true to life
  and the human condition.

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How do I find the THEME?

• Look at the other parts of TPCASTT.
• What insight are all of these working together to
  convey?
• What is the poet trying to say about their
  subject?