Poetry is one of the most expressive forms of literature. It can evoke emotions, set a mood, tell a story, or create a deeply and universally understood feeling in its readers. This makes expounding its elements, and understanding its rich meaning, comparisons, and symbols, even more important.
The TP-CASTT method of poetry analysis is a great way to teach students to dissect a poem and understand its parts. It helps students to uncover the deeper meanings within poems while giving them the confidence to be self-educators. TP-CASTT Poetry Analysis is an order of operations similar to PEMDAS for math. It asks students to list items in sequential order and answer questions based on their reading of the poem.
In class, it is an excellent idea to look at poets who have been inspired by the Greeks. For this example, I have chosen “Ode on a Grecian Urn” by John Keats, a poem inspired by works like The Odyssey by Homer. This activity can be used with any poem of your choice, related to Greek mythology.
This is a great activity to have students do in a small group! Students may also enjoy selecting their own poem to analyze, with some parameters in place to help guide them in their decisions.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Perform a TPCASTT analysis of a poem inspired by Greek mythology. Remember that TPCASTT stands for Title, Paraphrase, Connotation, Attitude/Tone, Shift, Title, Theme.
Display each group's TP-CASTT analysis around the classroom so students can walk around and view different interpretations. This encourages peer learning and sparks new insights from seeing classmates' perspectives.
Divide TP-CASTT components among group members so each student is responsible for one part. This ensures everyone participates and becomes an expert on their section.
Demonstrate your thought process by analyzing one TP-CASTT category out loud. Students gain confidence seeing how to interpret and articulate their ideas step by step.
Provide helpful prompts like 'Based on the title, I predict...' or 'The tone of this poem feels...' This scaffolds student responses and makes analysis more accessible for all levels.
Lead a conversation comparing the themes identified by different groups. This helps students synthesize ideas and recognize recurring motifs in Greek-inspired poetry.
TP-CASTT is a structured approach for analyzing poems. It stands for Title, Paraphrase, Connotation, Attitude/Tone, Shift, Title, Theme. This method helps students systematically break down and interpret the deeper meanings and elements within a poem.
To use TP-CASTT with a Greek poem, guide students to analyze each step—starting with the poem’s title and ending with its overall theme. Encourage them to identify Greek mythological references, discuss tone, and summarize the poem’s message. Group discussions or creative assignments can deepen understanding.
TP-CASTT can be used to analyze any poem, not just those related to Greek mythology. Its step-by-step structure works for poems from any genre or culture, making it a versatile tool for poetry study.
TP-CASTT is effective because it breaks down complex poems into manageable steps. It helps students focus on individual elements—like tone, symbolism, and theme—boosting confidence and critical thinking when interpreting poetry.
Some suitable examples include poems inspired by Homer’s epics like The Odyssey, Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats, or modern works referencing Greek myths. These offer rich imagery and symbolism ideal for TP-CASTT analysis.