TPIRDASTT
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TPIRDASTT is an acronym. That means it is an
abbreviation for the format for poetry
analysis.
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T – Title
P- Paraphrase
I – Initial Reflection
R – Rhyme/Rhythm/Poetic type
D – Devices/Syntax
A – Attitude (Tone) Explanation
S – Shift
T – Thematic Statement
T- Thoughts (Final)
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T – Title
Speculate, wonder, think about what the
subject of the poem might be based on the
title.
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P - Paraphrase
Before you can think about meaning or
analysis, you must understand the literal
meaning of the poem.
Write the poem in your own words. Spelling,
grammar, or any other convention doesn’t
matter.
This can be done in a note format.
Break the poem up in a way that makes sense
for you. Don’t do it line by line.
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I - Initial Reflection
Write a reflection of the poem. Write what you
think the poem is really about.
You are “thinking out loud” on paper.
Attempting to reach a “light bulb” moment.
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R- Rhyme/Rhythm/Type of Poem
Look for rhyme and rhyme scheme.
I’ll provide you with a chart for Poem Type
and Rhyme Type.
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D – Devices/Syntax
You will be very comfortable here…. This is
what you think of when you hear poetry
analysis.
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Once you get to this stage, you have analyzed
tone on a rhetorical level.
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A – Attitude (Tone) or Mood
Here you will find the relationship between
words and emotions.
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Use this step by step process:
Identify charged words.
Label these words as positive, negative, or
neutral.
Divide the words into groups that express the
same emotion (keep them in the order they
appear in the poem).
Briefly explain why those words make up a
group.
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Attitude/Tone/Mood (continued)
Use the “Tone Vocabulary Sheet” and search
for a term that best expresses the emotion
that the word groups convey.
Draw lines where the emotion changes.
Write an explanation of why the emotion
changed.
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T – Thoughts (Final)
Re-visit your Initial reflection. Were you
correct?
Make notes of what has changed in your
understanding since making the initial
reflection.
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You’re done!!!!!
You have successfully analyzed your first
poem.
If required, at this point you would write an
essay explaining your analysis.