A one-sheet guide for poetry analysis--TIPCASTT
A concept to keep in mind when analyzing poetry is the “TIPCASTT” system. This system leads the reader to
identifying the theme of the poem, literary devices, and the difference between the figurative and literal
meanings of the poem. It is good to keep this system in mind when analyzing a poem for class or for a
standardized test, such as the A.P. English Test.
THE “TIPCASTT” SYSTEM OF POETRY ANALYSIS:
This systematic approach takes 7 steps. Use the rest of this worksheet to follow these steps for your given poem,
writing in the spaces provided. Be sure to retain this and other TIPCASTT worksheets for future reference.
STEP 1: TITLE. Write the title and author of the poem:
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Then, predict what the poem will be about, based solely on its title:
STEP 2: PARAPHRASE.
Silently read the poem. Then, listen to it read aloud by someone else. Finally, restate its literal meaning in your
own words on the following lines. Try to write at least one sentence for each stanza of the poem, capturing all
of its literal ideas.
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STEP 3: CONNOTATION. Read the poem and state its point of view.
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Then, reread the poem, looking for rhyming patterns. What is the rhyme pattern, if any?
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Then, look for especially significant or unusual words in the poem. Why were they included? What meaning
do they convey?
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Finally, look for examples of poetic devices in the poem. How do such devices aid the poem in achieving its
poetic effects?
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STEP 4. ATTITUDE
Reread the poem, looking for diction, images, and details that hint at or suggest the
poet’s attitude to the poem’s subject. Note these examples below.
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STEP 5. SHIFT.
Reread the poem, marking the places in it where the speaker’s feelings shift or change.
Watch for changes in line length, sound, diction, and punctuation, and pay especial attention to the
conclusion.
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STEP 6. TITLE Now, reread the poem’s title again and your initial explanation for it. Now that you’ve
reread the poem several times and analyzed its features, explain the title of the poem in light of its meaning
again.
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STEP 7. THEME
First, identify the literal subject(s) of the poem.
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Then, identify the abstract or figurative subject of the poem.
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Now, state what the poem is saying about its subjects:
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Finally, write the theme of the poem in a complete sentence.
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