English 9
Ms. Spetz

• This is a process to help you organize your analysis of poetry.
• We have already learned the vocabulary, now it’s time to put it into practice!
• Together, we are going to analyze
“Nothing Gold Can Stay” using
TPCASTT.
• You have a note sheet that looks like this…

• Analyze the title first.
• What do you predict this poem will be about?
• Write down your predictions.
• We will reflect on the title again after we have read the poem.
• The next step is often omitted, but it is the most important!!!!

• 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.

• Analyze the figures of speech and sound effects of the poem.
• These are the poetry vocabulary you have already studied.
• These elements add to the meaning.

• Tone is the attitude of the speaker toward the subject of the poem.

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Forthright-directly frank without hesitation
Gloomy-darkness, sadness, rejection
Fanciful-using the imagination
Haughty-may-proud and vain to the point of arrogance
Indignant-marked by anger aroused by injustice
Intimate-very familiar
Judgmental-authoritative and often critical opinion
Jovial-happy
Lyrical-expressing a poet’s inner feeling; emotional; full of images, song-like
Matter-of-fact-accepting of conditions; not fanciful or emotional
Mocking-treating with contempt or ridicule
Morose-gloomy, sullen, surly, despondent
Malicious-purposely hurtful
Caustic-intense use of sarcasm; stinging; biting
Conventional-lacking spontaneity, originality and individuality
Disdainful-scornful
Didactic-author attempts to educate or instruct the reader
Objective-an unbiased view
Optimistic-hopeful; cheerful
Obsequious-polite and obedient only for hope of gaining favor
Patronizing-air of condescension
Pessimistic-seeing the worst side of things
Quizzical-odd, eccentric, amusing
Ribald-offensive in speech, gesture
Reverent-treating a subject with honor and respect
Ridiculing-slightly contemptuous banter
Accusatory-charging of wrong doing
Apathetic-indifferent in energy or concern
Awe-solemn wonder
Bitter-exhibiting strong animosity as a result of pain or grief
Cynical-questions the basic sincerity and goodness of people
Condescension/ing- a feeling of superiority
Callous-unfeeling, insensitive to feeling of others
Contemplative-studying, thinking, reflecting on an issue
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Critical-finding fault
Choleric-hot tempered; easily angered
Contemptuous Derisive-ridiculing, mocking
Earnest-intense and sincere state of mind
Erudite-learned, polished, scholarly
Reflective-illustrating innermost
Sarcastic-sneering, caustic
Sardonic-scornfully and bitterly sarcastic
Sincere-without deceit or pretense; genuine
Solemn-deeply earnest, grove
Sanguineous-optimistic, cheerful
Whimsical-odd, queer, fantastic
Allusive- having reference to something implied or inferred; symbolic, figurative
Angry- irritated or annoyed, upset
Apologetic- asking forgiveness, contrite, sorry, repentant
Arrogant-feeling of personal superiority, conceited, haughty, egotistical, bigheaded
Audacious-confidence to try anything, brave, bold daring, foolhardy, risky
Bantering- an exchange of light, playful, teasing remarks; good-natured raillery
Boring- lacking in spirit, lack luster, tedious, dull dreary, uninteresting
Burlesque- ludicrous parody or grotesque caricature; humorous or provocative stage show
Candid-frank; outspoken; open and sincere; free from reservation; honest
Childish-puerile, weak, silly; befitting a child
Chilling-likely to cause a chill; physically, emotionally, or socially cold
Clinical-extremely objective and realistic; dispassionately analytic, unemotionally critical
Cold- feeling an uncomfortable lack of warmth; lacking in passion, emotion, enthusiasm, or ardor
Compassionate-feeling of deep sympathy /sorrow for one who is stricken with misfortune; wish to alleviate

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Complimentary-the nature of , conveying, expressing praise often that is flattering
Confident-having strong belief of full assurance; sure of oneself
Confused-
Contentious- tending to argument or strife or controversy
Depressing
Detached-impartial or objective; disinterested; unbiased; not involved or concerned; aloof
Diffident-lacking confidence in one’s own ability, worth, or fitness; timid; shy
Disdainful-full of scorn
Dramatic-highly effective or striking
Dreamy-soothing; restful; quieting; visionary
Effusive-unduly demonstrative; lacking reserve; pouring out; overflowing
Elegiac-mournful, melancholic, or plaintive
Facetious-not meant to be taken seriously or literally; amusing; humorous; lacking serious intent
Factual-based on truth
Flippant-frivolous disrespect, shallow, lacking seriousness; characterized by levity
Foreboding-strong inner feeling or notion of a future misfortune, evil; presentiment; portent; omen
Frightening-fearful, terrifying, scare
Frivolous-lack of seriousness or sense; self indulgent or carefree; no weight, worth or importance
Funereal-mournful, gloomy, dismal
Giddy-frivolous and lighthearted; impulsive; flighty; causing dizziness
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Gleeful-full of exultant joy; merry; delighted
Happy-delighted, pleased or glad; indicative of pleasure, contentment or joy
Hilarious-arousing great merriment; boisterously merry or cheerful
Hallow-make holy or sanctify; consecrate; to honor; venerate or consider sacred-
Horrific-causing great fear, fright or terror
Hostile-antagonistic, opposed in feeling, enemy, unfriendly to the point of anger
Humorous-
Hyperbolic-exaggeration
Impartial-unbiased, fair, just
Incisive-remarkably clear and direct; penetrating; cutting; biting trenchant
Indignant-feelings expressing strong displeasure; something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base
Inflammatory-tending to arouse anger, hostility, passion
Informative-instructive, didactic
Insipid-without distinctive, interesting, or stimulating qualities; vapid or bland
Insolent-boldly rude or disrespectful; insulting
Ironic-coincidental; unexpected; occurrence of something that is opposite of expectation
Irreverent-disrespectful; deficient in veneration
Irritating-annoying; provoking
Learned- having much knowledge; scholarly; erudite; acquired by experience
Lugubrious-mournful, dismal, gloomy especially in an affected exaggerated or unrelieved manner

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Macabre-gruesome and horrifying; ghastly, horrible; of pertaining to or dealing with death especially its grimmer or uglier aspect
Malevolent-wishing evil or harm to another; showing ill will; malicious
Melancholic-disposed or affected with gloom
Melodramatic-exaggerated and emotional or sentimental; sensational or sensationalized
Mock-heroic-form of satire which trivial subjects, characters, and events are treated in a ceremonious manner with elevated language and elaborate devices characteristic of the heroic style.
Mocking-to attack or treat with ridicule, contempt, or derision; to ridicule with mimicry of action or speech
Moralistic-regulating the values or beliefs of others
Nostalgic-experiencing/exhibiting sentimental/ wistful yearning for happiness of a former place, time, situation
Objective-not influenced by personal feelings, interpretations, or prejudice; based on facts; unbiased
Ominous-portending evil or harm; foreboding; threatening; inauspicious
Oppressive-burdensome, unjustly harsh, or tyrannical
Patronizing-condescending, demeaning, belittling, superior
Peaceful-
Pedantic-ostentatious in one’s learning; overly concerned with minute details especially in teaching
Petty-little or no importance or consequence; having or showing narrow ideas, interests
Pitiful-evoking or deserving contempt by smallness, poor quality
Pleasant-agreeable, enjoyable
Poignant-keenly distressing to the feelings; keen or strong mental or emotional appeal
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Pretentious-making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious
Proud –feeling pleasure or satisfaction over something honorable; having high opinions of oneself
Restrained-holding back, controlling, or checking ones thinking or emotions; deprived of liberty
Satiric-The use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule in exposing denouncing or deriding vice
Scornful-derisive or contemptuous; disapproving or sneering
Self-righteous-confident in one’s own beliefs, especially when smugly moralistic and intolerant of the opinions and behavior of others.
Sentimental –weakly emotional; mawkishly susceptible or tender
Sharp-having a thin cutting edge or fine point; abrupt, as an ascent; sudden or abrupt change in direction
Shocking- causing intense surprise, disgust, horror
Somber-gloomy dark, dimly lighted; dark dull; depressing or dismal
Sympathetic-looking upon with favor; special affinity or mutual relationship
Taunting- to reproach in a sarcastic, insulting, or jeering manner; mock
Tired-weary or bored; hackneyed; stale; exhausted by exertion
Tragic-extremely mournful, melancholy or pathetic; dreadful, calamitous
Unnerving-deprive of courage, strength, determination or confidence
Uproarious-tumultuous; very funny or loud person; confused or noisy assembly
Urgent-compelling or requiring immediate action or attention; imperative; pressing; insistent
Vexed-irritated; annoyed
Vibrant-pulsating with vigor and energy; vigorous; energetic; vital
Wry-distortion or lopsided facial features; contrary perverse; distorted or perverted

• If there is a change in…
– Time
– Tone
– Speaker
– Topic
This should always be noted as this will also affect the meaning .

• 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….

• As you already know, theme is the general insight into life conveyed by the author through his/her work.
• It does not make a judgment.
example: “Don’t do drugs” is not a theme.
• It merely states something that is true to life and the human condition.

• 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 life?