tpcastt poetry analysis technique i died for beauty by emily dickinson
TRANSCRIPT
TTPPCCAASSTTTTPoetry Analysis TechniquePoetry Analysis Technique
““I Died for Beauty”I Died for Beauty”By Emily DickinsonBy Emily Dickinson
Title
Paraphrase
Connotation
Attitude
Shifts
Title (again)
Theme of the poem
What SHOULD your poem look
like after you have finished
TPCASTTing it?
T -- TitleT -- Title Read the title of the poemRead the title of the poem
Predict what the poem will be about Predict what the poem will be about based on the title ONLYbased on the title ONLY
Do not begin reading the poem yetDo not begin reading the poem yet
Write 3-4 sentences about your Write 3-4 sentences about your predictionprediction
T -- TitleT -- TitleI died because I was obsessed with beauty? I died because I was obsessed with beauty?
I looked at someone or something so I looked at someone or something so beautiful itbeautiful it
caused my death?caused my death?
Was a beauty queen murdered?Was a beauty queen murdered?
P – ParaphraseP – Paraphrase
Translate the poem into your own words, Translate the poem into your own words, line by line if possible.line by line if possible.
Be sure to paraphrase using completeBe sure to paraphrase using completesentences. sentences.
On average, you should have On average, you should have approximatelyapproximately
one paragraph per stanza.one paragraph per stanza.
(Next slide)(Next slide)
P – ParaphraseP – ParaphraseYour TurnYour Turn
Paraphrase this poem, line by line orParaphrase this poem, line by line or
stanza by stanza. Keep in mind that stanza by stanza. Keep in mind that itit
must be a COMPLETE translation.must be a COMPLETE translation.
You must understand the poet’s literalYou must understand the poet’s literal
meaning of the words.meaning of the words.
P – ParaphraseP – ParaphraseFirst StanzaFirst Stanza
A first person speaker has recently died andA first person speaker has recently died and
been laid to rest in a tomb. She obviouslybeen laid to rest in a tomb. She obviously
comes from a well-to-do family because hercomes from a well-to-do family because her
final resting spot is a tomb versus a grave. Iffinal resting spot is a tomb versus a grave. If
she died for beauty, what kind of stand wasshe died for beauty, what kind of stand was
she taking (inner beauty, art, history)? she taking (inner beauty, art, history)? ShortlyShortly
after being laid to rest, another person, whoafter being laid to rest, another person, who
died for truth, was placed in a neighboringdied for truth, was placed in a neighboring
room.room.
P – ParaphraseP – ParaphraseSecond StanzaSecond Stanza
Sensing her presence, the new soul gently asksSensing her presence, the new soul gently askswhat led to her death. She responds, “Beauty,”what led to her death. She responds, “Beauty,”and he replies back that he died for truth. Heand he replies back that he died for truth. Hethen states, “the two are one,” leading thethen states, “the two are one,” leading thereader to believe that standing up for your valuesreader to believe that standing up for your valuesand principles are sometimes more importantand principles are sometimes more importantthan life itself. He also says that they are alikethan life itself. He also says that they are alikebecause they both were willing to sacrifice theirbecause they both were willing to sacrifice theirlives for their values.lives for their values.
P – ParaphraseP – ParaphraseThird StanzaThird Stanza
The two quickly realize they are like souls. TheyThe two quickly realize they are like souls. They
continue to talk and form a friendship in thecontinue to talk and form a friendship in the
afterlife until the weeds cover their lips and theirafterlife until the weeds cover their lips and their
tomb. By that time, their families, friends, andtomb. By that time, their families, friends, and
society have forgotten about them as individuals.society have forgotten about them as individuals.
In addition, their purpose for failing, or dieing,In addition, their purpose for failing, or dieing,
has also been forgotten. Meaning nothing hashas also been forgotten. Meaning nothing has
changed and they died in vain.changed and they died in vain.
C -- ConnotationC -- Connotation
Look for poetic devices that go beyond the Look for poetic devices that go beyond the literal interpretationliteral interpretation– metaphor, simile, personification, metaphor, simile, personification,
alliteration, onomatopoeia, rhythm, rhyme alliteration, onomatopoeia, rhythm, rhyme scheme, symbolism, and dictionscheme, symbolism, and diction
Circle these devices and make margin notes Circle these devices and make margin notes about their meaningsabout their meanings
In this specific poem, you should be able to In this specific poem, you should be able to identify and explain at least three poetic identify and explain at least three poetic devicesdevices
C -- ConnotationC -- Connotation
Extended MetaphorExtended Metaphor – throughout the – throughout theentire poem Beauty and Truth are beingentire poem Beauty and Truth are beingcomparedcompared
PersonificationPersonification – Giving human – Giving human characteristicscharacteristics
to inanimate objectsto inanimate objects Her = Beauty / Him = TruthHer = Beauty / Him = Truth
ABCBABCB near rhyme scheme near rhyme scheme
A -- AttitudeA -- Attitude
Observe either the speaker’s or the Observe either the speaker’s or the poet’s attitude poet’s attitude
Attitude and tone are synonymsAttitude and tone are synonyms Attitude is an adjectiveAttitude is an adjective There can be more than oneThere can be more than one
Explain the attitude/tone of the Explain the attitude/tone of the poempoem
A -- AttitudeA -- Attitude
SAD and SOMBER regarding death,SAD and SOMBER regarding death,
graveyard, and their failuresgraveyard, and their failures
CONTENTMENT due to the fact that CONTENTMENT due to the fact that theythey
discover that they both died standing discover that they both died standing upup
for what was important to themfor what was important to them
S -- ShiftS -- Shift
Identify any speaker shiftsIdentify any speaker shifts
Identify any shifts in attitudeIdentify any shifts in attitude
S -- ShiftS -- Shift
There is one speaker shift in the third stanza.There is one speaker shift in the third stanza.
There are two speakers who continue their There are two speakers who continue their dialogue back and forth in the first two dialogue back and forth in the first two stanzas and refer to themselves as “I.”stanzas and refer to themselves as “I.”
However, in the last stanza, they begin However, in the last stanza, they begin referring to themselves as “we” and “our.”referring to themselves as “we” and “our.”
T – Title (again)T – Title (again)
Re-examine the title. Re-examine the title.
How does the title fit with the How does the title fit with the work as a whole? work as a whole?
This time, you are interpreting the This time, you are interpreting the title, not just predicting or looking title, not just predicting or looking at it literally.at it literally.
T – Title (again)T – Title (again)
“ “I Died for Beauty”I Died for Beauty”
We don’t know specifically what aspectWe don’t know specifically what aspectof beauty led to her death, but we knowof beauty led to her death, but we knowit was a cause she was willing to dieit was a cause she was willing to diefor.for.We don’t even know specifically how sheWe don’t even know specifically how shedied.died.
T -- ThemeT -- Theme
Determine what the poet is sayingDetermine what the poet is saying
THIS IS NOT THE MORAL OF THE POEMTHIS IS NOT THE MORAL OF THE POEM
Identify the theme by recognizing the Identify the theme by recognizing the human experience, motivation, or human experience, motivation, or condition of the poem.condition of the poem.
One work may have several possible One work may have several possible themesthemes
T -- ThemeT -- Theme
Beauty and Truth are ParallelsBeauty and Truth are ParallelsEach speaker died for ideals Each speaker died for ideals
(Beauty/Truth)(Beauty/Truth)
Each speaker is buried is similar Each speaker is buried is similar conditions and within the same tombconditions and within the same tomb
Each speaker dies and decays at about Each speaker dies and decays at about the same timethe same time
Both names are covered with the same Both names are covered with the same mossmoss
T -- ThemeT -- Theme
FriendshipFriendshipThe two speakers bond as friends because The two speakers bond as friends because
they have similar causes and valuesthey have similar causes and values
Postmortem friendship makes a scary Postmortem friendship makes a scary situation more bearablesituation more bearable
However, their bond is broken with the However, their bond is broken with the passage of time (i.e. moss reaches their passage of time (i.e. moss reaches their lips, and their names are covered)lips, and their names are covered)
Title
Paraphrase
Connotation
Attitude
Shifts
Title (again)
Theme of the poem
What does YOUR poem look like
now that you have finished
TPCASTTing it?