Analytical Tools and Strategies
SOAPSTone + (Analysis Tool for Nonfiction)
As a method for close reading, you must annotate your assigned texts. My definition of annotations- written observations and comments about what you are reading as you are reading. To help guide your annotations, use SOAPSTone +. It is a challenge to derive meaning from the written, unspoken word. You must learn to read on all levels.
Speaker:
Remember that the speaker cannot simply be the writer.
Is there an identifiable speaker? What other clues are there as to the speaker?
Age? Gender? Social Class? Emotional State? Occupation?
Occasion:
Remember that the occasion is not simply identifying the time and place.
Is it a memory? Speech? Letter? Critique? Argument? About what event? Where? When?
Audience:
Who is the intended audience? Whose attention does the writer seek to gain? Who is the writer speaking to?
Purpose:
Think about the modes or writing and the purposes behind those modes- to entertain, to inform, to persuade, to critique, to complain, to explain, to reflect, to describe, etc. Often writers will have a dual purpose. It is not enough to say to inform… to inform about what? To complain about what? To explain what?
Subject:
The subjects of texts are often abstract- the right to die, racism, poverty, conformity, etc.
Tone:
Tone is the attitude of the speaker towards his subject. Who is the speaker? What is his subject? How does the speaker feel about his subject?
Stylistic Devices:
Tone, diction, imagery, syntax, organization (denotation, connotation, parallel structure, punctuation, syntax, detail, chronology)
Rhetorical Devices:
The writer’s use of:
•mode- narrative, expository, description, and persuasion.
•
ethos, pathos, and logos.
•
evidence- personal experiences, example, and definition
•
satire, sarcasm, understatement, and irony.
PDIDLS (Analysis Tool for Tone in Prose)
PDIDLS
Point of View, Diction, Imagery, Details, Language, and Syntax
Use diction to find tone. Use imagery, details, language and syntax to support tone, which
is the author’s attitude toward the subject, toward himself, or toward the audience.
DICTION
Adjectives, nouns, verbs, adverbs, negative words, positive words, synonyms, contrast.
Look at the words that jump out at you - Evaluate only those words to find tone.
Also look at:
Colloquial (Slang)
Old-Fashioned
Informal (Conversational)
Formal (Literary)
Connotative (Suggestive meaning)
Denotative (Exact meaning)
Concrete (Specific)
Abstract (General or Conceptual)
Euphonious (Pleasant Sounding)
Cacophonous (Harsh sounding)
Monosyllabic (One syllable)
Polysyllabic (More than one syllable)
Describe diction (choice of words) by considering the following:
1.
Words can be monosyllabic (one syllable in length) or polysyllabic (more than one syllable in length). The higher the ratio of polysyllabic words, the more difficult the content.
2.
Words can be mainly colloquial (slang), informal (conversational), formal (literary) or old-fashioned.
3.
Words can be mainly denotative (containing an exact meaning, e.g., dress) or connotative (containing suggested meaning, e.g., gown)
4.
Words can be concrete (specific) or abstract (general or conceptual).
5.
Words can euphonious (pleasant sounding, e.g., languid, murmur) or cacophonous (harsh sound, e.g., raucous, croak).
SHIFTS IN TONE: Attitude change about topic/Attitude about topic is different than the attitude toward
subject.
o
Key Words (but, nevertheless, however, although)
o
Changes in the line length
o
Paragraph Divisions
o
Punctuation (dashes, periods, colons)
o
Sharp contrasts in diction
IMAGERY- Creates a vivid picture and appeals to the senses
Alliteration
repetition of consonant sounds at the start of a word
The giggling girl gave gum.
Assonance
repetition of vowel sounds in the middle of a word
Moths cough and drop wings.
Consonance
repetition of consonant sounds in the middle of a word
The man has kin in Spain
Onomatopoeia
writing sounds as words
The clock went tick tock.
Simile
a direct comparison of unlike things using like or as
Her hair is like a rat’s nest.
Metaphor
a direct comparison of unlike things
The man’s suit is a rainbow.
Hyperbole
a deliberate exaggeration for effect
I’d die for a piece of candy.
Understatement
represents something as less than it is
A million dollars is okay.
Personification
attributing human qualities to inhuman objects
The teapot cried for water.
Metonymy
word exchanged for another closely associated with it
Uncle Sam wants you!
Pun
play on words – Uses words with multiple meanings
Shoes menders mend soles.
Symbol
something that represents/stands for something else
the American Flag
Analogy
comparing two things that have at least one thing in common
A similar thing happened…
Oxymoron
Use or words seemingly in contradiction to each other
bittersweet chocolate
DETAILS- specifics the author includes about facts – his opinion
LANGUAGE- Words that describe the entire body of words in a text – not isolated bits of diction
Artificial
false
Literal
apparent, word for word
Bombastic
pompous, ostentatious
Moralistic
puritanical, righteous
Colloquial
vernacular
Obscure
unclear
Concrete
actual, specific, particular
Obtuse
dull-witted, undiscerning
Connotative
alludes to; suggestive
Ordinary
everyday, common
Cultured
cultivated, refined, finished
Pedantic
didactic, scholastic, bookish
Detached
cut-off, removed, separated
Plain
clear, obvious
Emotional
expressive of emotions
Poetic
lyric, melodious, romantic
Esoteric
understood by a chosen few
Precise
exact, accurate, decisive
Euphemistic
insincere, affected
Pretentious
pompous, gaudy, inflated
Exact
verbatim, precise
Provincial
rural, rustic, unpolished
Figurative
serving as illustration
Scholarly
intellectual, academic
Formal
academic, conventional
Sensuous
passionate, luscious
Grotesque
hideous, deformed
Simple
clear, intelligible
Homespun
folksy, homey, native, rustic
Slang
lingo, colloquialism
Idiomatic
Peculiar, vernacular
Symbolic
representative, metaphorical
Insipid
uninteresting, tame, dull
Trite
common, banal, stereotyped
Jargon
vocabulary for a profession
Informal
casual, relaxed, unofficial
Learned
educated, experienced
Vulgar
coarse, indecent, tasteless
Rhetorical Devices - The use of language that creates a literary effect – enhance and support
o
Rhetorical Question food for thought; create satire/sarcasm; pose dilemma
o
Euphemism substituting a milder or less offensive sounding word(s)
o
Aphorism universal commends, sayings, proverbs – convey major point
o
Repetition also called refrain; repeated word, sentence or phrase
o
Restatement main point said in another way
o
Irony either verbal or situational – good for revealing attitude
o
Allusion refers to something universally known
o
Paradox a statement that can be true and false at the same time
SYNTAX
Consider the following patterns and structures:
o
Does the sentence length fit the subject matter?
o
Why is the sentence length effective?
o
What variety of sentence lengths are present?
o
Sentence beginnings – Variety or Pattern?
o
Arrangement of ideas in sentences
o
Arrangement of ideas in paragraph – Pattern?
Construction of sentences to convey attitude
o
Declarative assertive – A statement
Imperative authoritative - Command
o
Interrogative asks a question
o
Simple Sentence one subject and one verb
o
Loose Sentence details after the subject and verb – happening now
o
Periodic Sentence details before the subject and verb – reflection on a past event
o
Juxtaposition normally unassociated ideas, words/phrases placed next together
o
Parallelism show equal ideas; for emphasis; for rhythm
o
Repetition words, sounds, and ideas used more than once – rhythm/emphasis
o
Rhetorical Question a question that expects no answer
Punctuation is included in syntax:
o
Ellipses a trailing off; equally etc.; going off into a dreamlike state
o
Dash interruption of a thought; an interjection of a thought into another
o
Semicolon parallel ideas; equal ideas; a piling up of detail
o
Colon a list; a definition or explanation; a result
o
Italics for emphasis
o
Capitalization for emphasis
o
Exclamation Point for emphasis; for emotion
Describe the sentence structure by considering the following:
1.
Examine the sentence length. Are the sentences telegraphic (shorter than 5 words in length), short (approximately 5 words in length), medium (approximately 18 words in length), or long and involved (30 or more words in length)? Does the sentence length fit the subject matter? What variety of lengths is present? Why is the sentence length effective?
2.
Examine sentence beginnings. Is there a good variety or does a pattern emerge?
3.
Examine the arrangement of ideas in a sentence. Are they set out in a special way for a purpose?
4.
Examine the arrangement of ideas in a paragraph. Is there evidence of any pattern or structure?
5.
Examine the sentence patterns. Some elements to consider are listed below:
•
A declarative (assertive) sentence makes a statement: e.g., The king is sick.
•
An imperative sentence gives a command: e.g., Stand up.
•
An interrogative sentence asks a question: e.g., Is the king sick?
•
An exclamatory sentence makes an exclamation: e.g., The king is dead!
•
A simple sentence contains one subject and one verb: e.g., The singer bowed to her adoring audience.
•
A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinate conjunction (and, but, or) or by a semicolon: e.g., The singer bowed to the audience, but she sang no encores.
•
A complex sentence contains an independent clause and one or more subordinate clauses: e.g., You said that you would tell the truth.
•
A compound-complex sentence contains two or more principal clauses and one or more subordinate clauses: e.g., The singer bowed while the audience applauded, but she sang no encores.
•
A loose sentence makes complete sense if brought to a close before the actual ending: e.g., We reached Edmonton/that morning/after a turbulent flight/and some exciting experiences.
•
A periodic sentence makes sense only when the end of the sentence is reached: e.g., That morning, after a turbulent flight and some exciting experiences, we reached Edmonton.
•
In a balanced sentence, the phrases or clauses balance each other by virtue or their likeness of structure, meaning, or length: e.g., He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters.
•
Natural order of a sentence involves constructing a sentence so the subject comes before the predicate: e.g., Oranges grow in California.
•
Inverted order of a sentence (sentence inversion) involves constructing a sentence so that the predicate comes before the subject: e.g., In California grow oranges. This is a device in which normal sentence patterns are reverse to create an emphatic or rhythmic effect.
•
Split order of a sentence divides the predicate into two parts with the subject coming in the middle: e.g., In California oranges grow.
•
Juxtaposition is a poetic and rhetorical device in which normally unassociated ideas, words, or phrases are placed next to one another creating an effect of surprise and wit: e.g., “The apparition of these faces in the crowd:/ Petals on a wet, black bough” (“In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound)
•
Parallel structure (parallelism) refers to a grammatical or structural similarity between sentences or parts of a sentence. It involves an arrangement of words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs so that elements of equal importance are equally developed and similarly phrased: e.g., He was walking, running, and jumping for joy.
•
Repetition is a device in which words, sounds, and ideas are used more than once to enhance rhythm and create emphasis: e.g., “…government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth” (“Address at Gettysburg” by Abraham Lincoln)
•
A rhetorical question is a question that expects no answer. It is used to draw attention to a point that is generally stronger than a direct statement: e.g., If Mr. Ferchoff is always fair, as you have said, why did he refuse to listen to Mrs. Baldwin’s arguments?
TPCASTT (Analysis Tool for Poetry)
Title: Ponder the title
Paraphrase: Translate the poem into your own words – paraphrase line by line for short poems OR summarize
stanza by stanza for long poems .
Connotation: Contemplate the meaning beyond the literal. Examine any and all devices and connect them to meaning.
•
alliteration- repetition of identical or similar consonant sounds, normally at the beginning of words
•
allusions- a direct or indirect reference to something which is presumable commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art
•
ambiguity- double meanings
•
antithesis- direct contrast of structurally parallel word groupings – sink-swim, best-worst
•
apostrophe- speaker addresses remarks to a dead person, an absent person or a non-human object as if it/her were alive.
•
assonance- repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds
•
blank verse- unrhymed iambic pentameter
•
conceit- a fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor between seemingly dissimilarobjects
•
consonance- repetition of the same or similar final consonant sounds on accented syllables or in important words – ticktock, singsong,
•
details- facts included or omitted to create effects or evoke responses
•
diction- choice of words – denotative and connotative meanings
•
hyperbole- exaggerated statements
•
imagery/images- sensory details: visual, auditory, smell, touch, taste
•
internal rhyme- repetition of sounds within the same line
•
irony- opposite of the expected: verbal, situational, dramatic
•
metaphor - direct comparison of principal term identified by secondary term - war is a razor
•
metonymy - object is used to represent something to which it is closely related: scepter & crown = royalty
•
onomatopoeia- use of a word whose sound imitates or suggests its meaning
•
oxymoron - contradiction of terms – jumbo shrimp, honest thief, sweet sorrow
•
paradox- appears contradictory or opposed to common sense, but contains a degree of truth or validity
•
personification – giving human attributes or emotions to concepts, animals, or inanimate objects pun- a play on words
•
rhyme- repetition of vowel sounds in accented syllables and all succeeding syllables
•
sarcasm- verbal irony, saying something that sounds like praise but is actually insult
•
simile- comparison using like or as
•
symbols- generally, anything that represents or stands for something else
•
syntax- arrangement of words within sentences or of sentences within paragraph
•
synecdoche- a part represents the whole: hands = person, all hands on deck
•
understatement- ironic understatement presents something as less significant than it is.
Attitude/Tone: Having examined the poem’s devices closely, students are now ready to explore the multiple attitudes that may be present in the poem. Examination of diction, images, and details suggests the speaker’s attitude toward the subject or contributes to understanding.
Shift: Rarely does a poet begin and end the poetic experience in the same place. As is true in most of us the poet’sunderstanding of an experience is a gradual realization, and the poem is a reflection of that epiphany. Consequently, the students’ discovery of the movement is critical to their understanding of the poem. One way to help arrive at an understanding of a poem is to trace the changing feelings of the speaker from the beginning to the end. The discovery of shift can be facilitated by watching for the following:
Key words: but, yet, however, although Punctuation: dashes, periods, colons, ellipsis
Changes in line or stanza length Changes in sound that may indicate changes in meaning
Changes in diction: slang to formal
Title: Examine the title again on an interpretive level.
Theme: Recognize the human experience, motivation, or condition suggested by the poem. Summarize the “plot”
of the poem, list subject or subjects of the poem, determine what the poet is saying about each subject and write a complete sentence.
As a method for close reading, you must annotate your assigned texts. My definition of annotations- written observations and comments about what you are reading as you are reading. To help guide your annotations, use SOAPSTone +. It is a challenge to derive meaning from the written, unspoken word. You must learn to read on all levels.
Speaker:
Remember that the speaker cannot simply be the writer.
Is there an identifiable speaker? What other clues are there as to the speaker?
Age? Gender? Social Class? Emotional State? Occupation?
Occasion:
Remember that the occasion is not simply identifying the time and place.
Is it a memory? Speech? Letter? Critique? Argument? About what event? Where? When?
Audience:
Who is the intended audience? Whose attention does the writer seek to gain? Who is the writer speaking to?
Purpose:
Think about the modes or writing and the purposes behind those modes- to entertain, to inform, to persuade, to critique, to complain, to explain, to reflect, to describe, etc. Often writers will have a dual purpose. It is not enough to say to inform… to inform about what? To complain about what? To explain what?
Subject:
The subjects of texts are often abstract- the right to die, racism, poverty, conformity, etc.
Tone:
Tone is the attitude of the speaker towards his subject. Who is the speaker? What is his subject? How does the speaker feel about his subject?
Stylistic Devices:
Tone, diction, imagery, syntax, organization (denotation, connotation, parallel structure, punctuation, syntax, detail, chronology)
Rhetorical Devices:
The writer’s use of:
•mode- narrative, expository, description, and persuasion.
•
ethos, pathos, and logos.
•
evidence- personal experiences, example, and definition
•
satire, sarcasm, understatement, and irony.
PDIDLS (Analysis Tool for Tone in Prose)
PDIDLS
Point of View, Diction, Imagery, Details, Language, and Syntax
Use diction to find tone. Use imagery, details, language and syntax to support tone, which
is the author’s attitude toward the subject, toward himself, or toward the audience.
DICTION
Adjectives, nouns, verbs, adverbs, negative words, positive words, synonyms, contrast.
Look at the words that jump out at you - Evaluate only those words to find tone.
Also look at:
Colloquial (Slang)
Old-Fashioned
Informal (Conversational)
Formal (Literary)
Connotative (Suggestive meaning)
Denotative (Exact meaning)
Concrete (Specific)
Abstract (General or Conceptual)
Euphonious (Pleasant Sounding)
Cacophonous (Harsh sounding)
Monosyllabic (One syllable)
Polysyllabic (More than one syllable)
Describe diction (choice of words) by considering the following:
1.
Words can be monosyllabic (one syllable in length) or polysyllabic (more than one syllable in length). The higher the ratio of polysyllabic words, the more difficult the content.
2.
Words can be mainly colloquial (slang), informal (conversational), formal (literary) or old-fashioned.
3.
Words can be mainly denotative (containing an exact meaning, e.g., dress) or connotative (containing suggested meaning, e.g., gown)
4.
Words can be concrete (specific) or abstract (general or conceptual).
5.
Words can euphonious (pleasant sounding, e.g., languid, murmur) or cacophonous (harsh sound, e.g., raucous, croak).
SHIFTS IN TONE: Attitude change about topic/Attitude about topic is different than the attitude toward
subject.
o
Key Words (but, nevertheless, however, although)
o
Changes in the line length
o
Paragraph Divisions
o
Punctuation (dashes, periods, colons)
o
Sharp contrasts in diction
IMAGERY- Creates a vivid picture and appeals to the senses
Alliteration
repetition of consonant sounds at the start of a word
The giggling girl gave gum.
Assonance
repetition of vowel sounds in the middle of a word
Moths cough and drop wings.
Consonance
repetition of consonant sounds in the middle of a word
The man has kin in Spain
Onomatopoeia
writing sounds as words
The clock went tick tock.
Simile
a direct comparison of unlike things using like or as
Her hair is like a rat’s nest.
Metaphor
a direct comparison of unlike things
The man’s suit is a rainbow.
Hyperbole
a deliberate exaggeration for effect
I’d die for a piece of candy.
Understatement
represents something as less than it is
A million dollars is okay.
Personification
attributing human qualities to inhuman objects
The teapot cried for water.
Metonymy
word exchanged for another closely associated with it
Uncle Sam wants you!
Pun
play on words – Uses words with multiple meanings
Shoes menders mend soles.
Symbol
something that represents/stands for something else
the American Flag
Analogy
comparing two things that have at least one thing in common
A similar thing happened…
Oxymoron
Use or words seemingly in contradiction to each other
bittersweet chocolate
DETAILS- specifics the author includes about facts – his opinion
LANGUAGE- Words that describe the entire body of words in a text – not isolated bits of diction
Artificial
false
Literal
apparent, word for word
Bombastic
pompous, ostentatious
Moralistic
puritanical, righteous
Colloquial
vernacular
Obscure
unclear
Concrete
actual, specific, particular
Obtuse
dull-witted, undiscerning
Connotative
alludes to; suggestive
Ordinary
everyday, common
Cultured
cultivated, refined, finished
Pedantic
didactic, scholastic, bookish
Detached
cut-off, removed, separated
Plain
clear, obvious
Emotional
expressive of emotions
Poetic
lyric, melodious, romantic
Esoteric
understood by a chosen few
Precise
exact, accurate, decisive
Euphemistic
insincere, affected
Pretentious
pompous, gaudy, inflated
Exact
verbatim, precise
Provincial
rural, rustic, unpolished
Figurative
serving as illustration
Scholarly
intellectual, academic
Formal
academic, conventional
Sensuous
passionate, luscious
Grotesque
hideous, deformed
Simple
clear, intelligible
Homespun
folksy, homey, native, rustic
Slang
lingo, colloquialism
Idiomatic
Peculiar, vernacular
Symbolic
representative, metaphorical
Insipid
uninteresting, tame, dull
Trite
common, banal, stereotyped
Jargon
vocabulary for a profession
Informal
casual, relaxed, unofficial
Learned
educated, experienced
Vulgar
coarse, indecent, tasteless
Rhetorical Devices - The use of language that creates a literary effect – enhance and support
o
Rhetorical Question food for thought; create satire/sarcasm; pose dilemma
o
Euphemism substituting a milder or less offensive sounding word(s)
o
Aphorism universal commends, sayings, proverbs – convey major point
o
Repetition also called refrain; repeated word, sentence or phrase
o
Restatement main point said in another way
o
Irony either verbal or situational – good for revealing attitude
o
Allusion refers to something universally known
o
Paradox a statement that can be true and false at the same time
SYNTAX
Consider the following patterns and structures:
o
Does the sentence length fit the subject matter?
o
Why is the sentence length effective?
o
What variety of sentence lengths are present?
o
Sentence beginnings – Variety or Pattern?
o
Arrangement of ideas in sentences
o
Arrangement of ideas in paragraph – Pattern?
Construction of sentences to convey attitude
o
Declarative assertive – A statement
Imperative authoritative - Command
o
Interrogative asks a question
o
Simple Sentence one subject and one verb
o
Loose Sentence details after the subject and verb – happening now
o
Periodic Sentence details before the subject and verb – reflection on a past event
o
Juxtaposition normally unassociated ideas, words/phrases placed next together
o
Parallelism show equal ideas; for emphasis; for rhythm
o
Repetition words, sounds, and ideas used more than once – rhythm/emphasis
o
Rhetorical Question a question that expects no answer
Punctuation is included in syntax:
o
Ellipses a trailing off; equally etc.; going off into a dreamlike state
o
Dash interruption of a thought; an interjection of a thought into another
o
Semicolon parallel ideas; equal ideas; a piling up of detail
o
Colon a list; a definition or explanation; a result
o
Italics for emphasis
o
Capitalization for emphasis
o
Exclamation Point for emphasis; for emotion
Describe the sentence structure by considering the following:
1.
Examine the sentence length. Are the sentences telegraphic (shorter than 5 words in length), short (approximately 5 words in length), medium (approximately 18 words in length), or long and involved (30 or more words in length)? Does the sentence length fit the subject matter? What variety of lengths is present? Why is the sentence length effective?
2.
Examine sentence beginnings. Is there a good variety or does a pattern emerge?
3.
Examine the arrangement of ideas in a sentence. Are they set out in a special way for a purpose?
4.
Examine the arrangement of ideas in a paragraph. Is there evidence of any pattern or structure?
5.
Examine the sentence patterns. Some elements to consider are listed below:
•
A declarative (assertive) sentence makes a statement: e.g., The king is sick.
•
An imperative sentence gives a command: e.g., Stand up.
•
An interrogative sentence asks a question: e.g., Is the king sick?
•
An exclamatory sentence makes an exclamation: e.g., The king is dead!
•
A simple sentence contains one subject and one verb: e.g., The singer bowed to her adoring audience.
•
A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinate conjunction (and, but, or) or by a semicolon: e.g., The singer bowed to the audience, but she sang no encores.
•
A complex sentence contains an independent clause and one or more subordinate clauses: e.g., You said that you would tell the truth.
•
A compound-complex sentence contains two or more principal clauses and one or more subordinate clauses: e.g., The singer bowed while the audience applauded, but she sang no encores.
•
A loose sentence makes complete sense if brought to a close before the actual ending: e.g., We reached Edmonton/that morning/after a turbulent flight/and some exciting experiences.
•
A periodic sentence makes sense only when the end of the sentence is reached: e.g., That morning, after a turbulent flight and some exciting experiences, we reached Edmonton.
•
In a balanced sentence, the phrases or clauses balance each other by virtue or their likeness of structure, meaning, or length: e.g., He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters.
•
Natural order of a sentence involves constructing a sentence so the subject comes before the predicate: e.g., Oranges grow in California.
•
Inverted order of a sentence (sentence inversion) involves constructing a sentence so that the predicate comes before the subject: e.g., In California grow oranges. This is a device in which normal sentence patterns are reverse to create an emphatic or rhythmic effect.
•
Split order of a sentence divides the predicate into two parts with the subject coming in the middle: e.g., In California oranges grow.
•
Juxtaposition is a poetic and rhetorical device in which normally unassociated ideas, words, or phrases are placed next to one another creating an effect of surprise and wit: e.g., “The apparition of these faces in the crowd:/ Petals on a wet, black bough” (“In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound)
•
Parallel structure (parallelism) refers to a grammatical or structural similarity between sentences or parts of a sentence. It involves an arrangement of words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs so that elements of equal importance are equally developed and similarly phrased: e.g., He was walking, running, and jumping for joy.
•
Repetition is a device in which words, sounds, and ideas are used more than once to enhance rhythm and create emphasis: e.g., “…government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth” (“Address at Gettysburg” by Abraham Lincoln)
•
A rhetorical question is a question that expects no answer. It is used to draw attention to a point that is generally stronger than a direct statement: e.g., If Mr. Ferchoff is always fair, as you have said, why did he refuse to listen to Mrs. Baldwin’s arguments?
TPCASTT (Analysis Tool for Poetry)
Title: Ponder the title
Paraphrase: Translate the poem into your own words – paraphrase line by line for short poems OR summarize
stanza by stanza for long poems .
Connotation: Contemplate the meaning beyond the literal. Examine any and all devices and connect them to meaning.
•
alliteration- repetition of identical or similar consonant sounds, normally at the beginning of words
•
allusions- a direct or indirect reference to something which is presumable commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art
•
ambiguity- double meanings
•
antithesis- direct contrast of structurally parallel word groupings – sink-swim, best-worst
•
apostrophe- speaker addresses remarks to a dead person, an absent person or a non-human object as if it/her were alive.
•
assonance- repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds
•
blank verse- unrhymed iambic pentameter
•
conceit- a fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor between seemingly dissimilarobjects
•
consonance- repetition of the same or similar final consonant sounds on accented syllables or in important words – ticktock, singsong,
•
details- facts included or omitted to create effects or evoke responses
•
diction- choice of words – denotative and connotative meanings
•
hyperbole- exaggerated statements
•
imagery/images- sensory details: visual, auditory, smell, touch, taste
•
internal rhyme- repetition of sounds within the same line
•
irony- opposite of the expected: verbal, situational, dramatic
•
metaphor - direct comparison of principal term identified by secondary term - war is a razor
•
metonymy - object is used to represent something to which it is closely related: scepter & crown = royalty
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onomatopoeia- use of a word whose sound imitates or suggests its meaning
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oxymoron - contradiction of terms – jumbo shrimp, honest thief, sweet sorrow
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paradox- appears contradictory or opposed to common sense, but contains a degree of truth or validity
•
personification – giving human attributes or emotions to concepts, animals, or inanimate objects pun- a play on words
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rhyme- repetition of vowel sounds in accented syllables and all succeeding syllables
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sarcasm- verbal irony, saying something that sounds like praise but is actually insult
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simile- comparison using like or as
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symbols- generally, anything that represents or stands for something else
•
syntax- arrangement of words within sentences or of sentences within paragraph
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synecdoche- a part represents the whole: hands = person, all hands on deck
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understatement- ironic understatement presents something as less significant than it is.
Attitude/Tone: Having examined the poem’s devices closely, students are now ready to explore the multiple attitudes that may be present in the poem. Examination of diction, images, and details suggests the speaker’s attitude toward the subject or contributes to understanding.
Shift: Rarely does a poet begin and end the poetic experience in the same place. As is true in most of us the poet’sunderstanding of an experience is a gradual realization, and the poem is a reflection of that epiphany. Consequently, the students’ discovery of the movement is critical to their understanding of the poem. One way to help arrive at an understanding of a poem is to trace the changing feelings of the speaker from the beginning to the end. The discovery of shift can be facilitated by watching for the following:
Key words: but, yet, however, although Punctuation: dashes, periods, colons, ellipsis
Changes in line or stanza length Changes in sound that may indicate changes in meaning
Changes in diction: slang to formal
Title: Examine the title again on an interpretive level.
Theme: Recognize the human experience, motivation, or condition suggested by the poem. Summarize the “plot”
of the poem, list subject or subjects of the poem, determine what the poet is saying about each subject and write a complete sentence.
Definitions...
Allusion: An allusion is an implied or indirect reference to a historical or literary individual or a well known event from history. Allusions can be part of literature or non-fiction. Allusions can also be taken from modern culture, such as television shows, films, or modern books.
Common sources for allusions:
A. The Bible
B. Greek and Roman mythology
C. Characters and events from literature
D. Well known events and famous people from history
Alliteration (uh-LIT-er-AY-shuhn): a
phrase with a string of words all beginning with the same sound.
Example: "Five freaky females finding sales at retail."
Assonance (ASS-uh-nince): the repetition of vowel sounds to create internal rhyme.Example: "Hear the mellow wedding bells." - Edgar Allen Poe" (the short e sound is repeated)
Character: The people or animals who are the focus of the literature.
Four types of characters are below...
Dynamic character: One who changes significantly during the literature
Static character: One who does not change significantly during the literature
Main character: one who receives the most focus in the literature
Minor character: one who receives the least focus in the literature
Conflict: the problems or struggles the characters must resolve. External conflict: a problem between two separate characters. Internal conflict: a problem or struggle a single character must solve or decide on individually.
Dialogue: the words or conversations spoken by the characters placed in quotation marks.
Dramatic Irony: Dramatic irony occurs when the audience or reader knows something the characters do not know. It is ironic because the characters were not expecting something to happen.
Imagery (IM-aj-ree): a very general term that encompasses nearly any description of something that conjures an image, sound, taste, smell or feeling to mind. In other words a literal or concrete representation of a sensory experience or of an object that can be known by one or more senses. Example: Homeless, the man, stooped and silent, ran his fingers over a dingy, torn coat... too stained, too threadbare to be anything but a cast off from forgotten times.
Plot: The sequence of events in a work of literature. Five parts to the plot: 1. Exposition (the introduction) 2. Rising action (events build towards the turning point) 3. The climax or turning point (the story takes a permanent turn towards an eventual resolution) 4. Falling action (events wind down towards the resolution 5. The resolution: the end where the loose ends are resolved
Point of View: The perspective through which the story is told. First person narrators are actual characters in the stories. A third person narrator is an unseen narrator.
The narrator is personally telling the reader of the experiences that happen to him or her, telling the reader of the events using first person pronouns, I, me, my, mine, us, we, our.., This narrator is not a character in the selection. The narrator uses third person to refer to characters, he, she, it they, them...
Simile (SIH-muh-lee): a comparison between two or more things
using the words like or as.
example: "I move fast like a cheetah on the Serengeti."
Metaphor
(MET-uh-for): a comparison between two or more things that doesn't use the words
like or as.
example: "You are an ant, while I'm the lion."
Hyperbole (hie-PER-buh-lee): an exaggeration.example: "My little sister asked me a million questions in one afternoon alone."
Personification,
(per-son-if-ih-KAY-shon): giving an animal or object human-like
characteristics.
example:
"Alright, the sky misses the sun at night."
Paradox
(PARE-uh-docks): a statement that seems untrue, that seems to contradict
itself. Example: "The poorest man is the richest, and the rich are poor."
Symbol (SIM-bull): something that stands for something else (often something more abstract).Example: The bald eagle, hearts, the snake, doves, the color white, water... are all symbolic of a larger concept.
Onomatopoeia
(ON-uh-maht-uh-PEE-uh): a word that imitates the sound it is describing.Example: "Out of reach, I pull out with a screech."
Situational Irony: Situational irony occurs when an event is the opposite of what the reader expected. "Situational irony, sometimes called irony of events, is most broadly defined as a situation where the outcome is not in line with what was expected, but it is also more generally understood as a situation that includes contradictions or sharp contrasts. . . . An example would be a man who takes a step aside in order to avoid getting sprinkled by a wet dog, and falls into his swimming pool."
(Lars Elleström, Divine Madness. Bucknell Univ. Press, 2002)
Theme: The message, lesson, or moral communicated through the literature.
Theme Powerpoint
Theme activity handout
Tone: The perspective, attitude, or viewpoint of the author toward the subject matter. We determine someone's tone of voice by listening to the way they sound. We can figure out a selection's tone by looking at the author's word choices, the characters' dialogue, and their behavior.
TONE POWERPOINT LINK
Understatement
(UHN-der-stayt-ment): the opposite of hyperbole, an understatement
makes something that is a big deal seem not very important. It's often used for
humor.
example: "The boat had been ripped apart by the storm and now a dozen
hungry sharks began circling the captain. 'This isn't great,' he told his
wife."
Verbal irony: Verbal irony occurs when what someone says is the opposite of what you would have expected.
Common sources for allusions:
A. The Bible
B. Greek and Roman mythology
C. Characters and events from literature
D. Well known events and famous people from history
Alliteration (uh-LIT-er-AY-shuhn): a
phrase with a string of words all beginning with the same sound.
Example: "Five freaky females finding sales at retail."
Assonance (ASS-uh-nince): the repetition of vowel sounds to create internal rhyme.Example: "Hear the mellow wedding bells." - Edgar Allen Poe" (the short e sound is repeated)
Character: The people or animals who are the focus of the literature.
Four types of characters are below...
Dynamic character: One who changes significantly during the literature
Static character: One who does not change significantly during the literature
Main character: one who receives the most focus in the literature
Minor character: one who receives the least focus in the literature
Conflict: the problems or struggles the characters must resolve. External conflict: a problem between two separate characters. Internal conflict: a problem or struggle a single character must solve or decide on individually.
Dialogue: the words or conversations spoken by the characters placed in quotation marks.
Dramatic Irony: Dramatic irony occurs when the audience or reader knows something the characters do not know. It is ironic because the characters were not expecting something to happen.
Imagery (IM-aj-ree): a very general term that encompasses nearly any description of something that conjures an image, sound, taste, smell or feeling to mind. In other words a literal or concrete representation of a sensory experience or of an object that can be known by one or more senses. Example: Homeless, the man, stooped and silent, ran his fingers over a dingy, torn coat... too stained, too threadbare to be anything but a cast off from forgotten times.
Plot: The sequence of events in a work of literature. Five parts to the plot: 1. Exposition (the introduction) 2. Rising action (events build towards the turning point) 3. The climax or turning point (the story takes a permanent turn towards an eventual resolution) 4. Falling action (events wind down towards the resolution 5. The resolution: the end where the loose ends are resolved
Point of View: The perspective through which the story is told. First person narrators are actual characters in the stories. A third person narrator is an unseen narrator.
The narrator is personally telling the reader of the experiences that happen to him or her, telling the reader of the events using first person pronouns, I, me, my, mine, us, we, our.., This narrator is not a character in the selection. The narrator uses third person to refer to characters, he, she, it they, them...
Simile (SIH-muh-lee): a comparison between two or more things
using the words like or as.
example: "I move fast like a cheetah on the Serengeti."
Metaphor
(MET-uh-for): a comparison between two or more things that doesn't use the words
like or as.
example: "You are an ant, while I'm the lion."
Hyperbole (hie-PER-buh-lee): an exaggeration.example: "My little sister asked me a million questions in one afternoon alone."
Personification,
(per-son-if-ih-KAY-shon): giving an animal or object human-like
characteristics.
example:
"Alright, the sky misses the sun at night."
Paradox
(PARE-uh-docks): a statement that seems untrue, that seems to contradict
itself. Example: "The poorest man is the richest, and the rich are poor."
Symbol (SIM-bull): something that stands for something else (often something more abstract).Example: The bald eagle, hearts, the snake, doves, the color white, water... are all symbolic of a larger concept.
Onomatopoeia
(ON-uh-maht-uh-PEE-uh): a word that imitates the sound it is describing.Example: "Out of reach, I pull out with a screech."
Situational Irony: Situational irony occurs when an event is the opposite of what the reader expected. "Situational irony, sometimes called irony of events, is most broadly defined as a situation where the outcome is not in line with what was expected, but it is also more generally understood as a situation that includes contradictions or sharp contrasts. . . . An example would be a man who takes a step aside in order to avoid getting sprinkled by a wet dog, and falls into his swimming pool."
(Lars Elleström, Divine Madness. Bucknell Univ. Press, 2002)
Theme: The message, lesson, or moral communicated through the literature.
Theme Powerpoint
Theme activity handout
Tone: The perspective, attitude, or viewpoint of the author toward the subject matter. We determine someone's tone of voice by listening to the way they sound. We can figure out a selection's tone by looking at the author's word choices, the characters' dialogue, and their behavior.
TONE POWERPOINT LINK
Understatement
(UHN-der-stayt-ment): the opposite of hyperbole, an understatement
makes something that is a big deal seem not very important. It's often used for
humor.
example: "The boat had been ripped apart by the storm and now a dozen
hungry sharks began circling the captain. 'This isn't great,' he told his
wife."
Verbal irony: Verbal irony occurs when what someone says is the opposite of what you would have expected.