Diction: (Other wise known as the word choice in the selection) Diction is a common literary element attributed in poems and passages. The word choice helps to switch between shifts in the poem and also broaden or enrich your perception/ imagery taken from the piece.
Tone: You can identify tone through the perception of the narrator or through the actions the characters take which often show their feelings as their motives, especially in a poem. Tone is something many essay questions ask to identify because it establishes the mood of the poem and where the narrator stands. It is a way of indirectly expressing point of view in a poem.
Figurative Language: This is often used in poetry to further enhance the objective which is being conveyed. We can identify figurative language through the use of metaphors, imagery and symbolism; other literary elements commonly present throughout poems. Figurative language contributes to the essay question because it is a key part in understanding the work. If we miss interpret the language of the poem we can often mis-interpret the true meaning of it or what the character is trying to explain.
Imagery: Imagery is often the best example to be used in writing your essay. It helps to paint a vivid image or picture of whats occurring, and therefore one of the strongest supportive details you could use in your essay. In questions where you have to compare differences, or portray a view or emotion felt by a character for example. This literary element enhances the poem and also your essay, making it stronger under ideas and context in the grading rubric.
Thematic Focus
• Use the strategy of TPCASTT
- T = Title
o Guess what the poetry is going to illustrate through the title of the poem.
- P = Paraphrase
o Instead of jumping to the conclusion and misunderstanding the whole poetry, try to write in your own words what each lines of stanza mean.
- C = Connotation
o Further than literal meanings of the poetry, identify figurative language of the poetry.
- A = Attitude
o Identify the speaker’s tone or diction that leads throughout the whole poem and speaker’s purpose.
o Understand what the speaker is trying to illustrate in the poetry.
o Also understand the poet’s attitude.
- S = Shifts
o Identify the changes in mood, attitude, diction, or meaning of the poetry.
- T = Title
o Examine the title again and match with the understanding of the poetry.
- T = Theme
o Identify what the poem is saying.
- T = Title
o Guess what the poetry is going to illustrate through the title of the poem.
- P = Paraphrase
o Instead of jumping to the conclusion and misunderstanding the whole poetry, try to write in your own words what each lines of stanza mean.
- C = Connotation
o Further than literal meanings of the poetry, identify figurative language of the poetry.
- A = Attitude
o Identify the speaker’s tone or diction that leads throughout the whole poem and speaker’s purpose.
o Understand what the speaker is trying to illustrate in the poetry.
o Also understand the poet’s attitude.
- S = Shifts
o Identify the changes in mood, attitude, diction, or meaning of the poetry.
- T = Title
o Examine the title again and match with the understanding of the poetry.
- T = Theme
o Identify what the poem is saying.
Main idea? --> Focus on how the speakers purpose is achieved by asking yourself...
- What are the characters actions or intentions?
- What is the plot development in the poem?
- What is the dialogue like in the poem? Does the narrator or characters go through internal and external debates? Identify them
o All these things help to better focus on your essay question and identify key points to support and strengthen your essay based on a poem.
* By: DongMi Won and Shaileen Berlas *
