Emmett Tills GlassTop Casket By Cornelius Eady Title Emmett Tills GlassTop Casket Reread it Just look at it Dont try to be all artistic and read something more into it Simply note your initial impression ID: 287367
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Slide1
TP-CASTT Practice
Emmett Till’s Glass-Top Casket
By Cornelius
EadySlide2
Title
“Emmett Till’s Glass-Top Casket”
Reread it. Just look at it. Don’t try
to be
all artistic and read
something more into
it. Simply note your initial impression.
What immediately pops into your head?
Any guesses as to what the poem is about?
This step is important—your initial impression of the title vs. your final impression can reveal a lot about the poem itself. Slide3
Paraphrase
Don’t try to interpret the poem here—not just yet.
Simply “translate” into simpler language.
Don’t skip any sentences or words. The purpose of this step is to focus your attention on the action, the story, the “gist” of the poem.Slide4
Let’s Do This!
By the time they cracked me open again, topside, abandoned in a toolshed, I had become another
kind
of nest. Not many people connect possums with Chicago
,
but this is where the city ends, after all, and I float still, after the footfalls fade and the roots bloom
around
us. The fact was, everything that worked for my young man
Some people found me, but by the time they opened me up, I had been abandoned in a toolshed and became a nest. People don’t usually think of possums when they think of Chicago,
but where I was found is at the end of the city, and I’m still there, just hanging around long after the people are gone and weeds and flowers come up around me. Truthfully, what I was built for worked great for the young man I containedSlide5
Your Turn!
worked
for my new tenants. The fact was, he had been gone for years. They lifted him from my
embrace
, and I was empty, ready. That’s how the possums found me, friend
,
dry-docked
, a tattered mercy hull. Once I held a boy who didn’t look like a boy. When they finally remembered, they peeked through my clear top. Then their wild surprise.Slide6
Paraphrase Part Deux
This is a good place to identify the speaker. Don’t be satisfied with “young man” or “child”. That may be the speaker, but try to identify what the speaker is going through or what the situation is: “child watching waves destroy his sandcastle”…
Who (or what) is the speaker of this poem?Slide7
Connotation
Look for words which:
Cause an emotional or strong
reactionStand out because of unusual usageAppear to be related to the subject or title of the poem
Identify these words and:
Determine their significance
Examine the type of feelings they evoke
Determine how they reflect the subject
Explain why the speaker is using those words at that timeSlide8
Connotation:
the words I find interesting….
By the time they cracked
me open again, topside,
abandoned
in a toolshed, I had become another
kind
of nest. Not many people connect
possums
with
Chicago
,
but this is where the city ends, after all, and I float still, after the footfalls fade and the
roots
bloom
around
us. The fact was, everything that worked for my young
man
worked for my new tenants. The fact was, he had been gone for years.
They
lifted him from my
embrace
, and I was
empty
, ready. That’s how the possums found me,
friend
,
dry-docked
, a tattered
mercy hull
.
Once I held a boy who didn’t look like a boy.
When they finally remembered, they peeked through my clear top. Then their
wild surprise
.Slide9
Attitude
Keep in mind that the poet and the speaker are not necessarily the same.
Still, it may be helpful to know a little about the poet’s background. After all, poets are like any other writers in that they write about what they know.
Reflect on the connotation of the words. At least try to figure out if the connotations are positive or negative—or if they are ironically positive or negative.Slide10
Attitude Part Dos
Cornelius
Eady
:
From Wikipedia:
Cornelius
Eady
(born 1954) is an American
poet
focusing largely on matters of
race
and
society
, particularly the trials of the
African-American
race in the
United States
. His poetry often centers around
jazz
and
blues
, family life, violence, and societal problems stemming from questions of race and class. His poetry is often praised for its simple and approachable language.Slide11
Bonus Information
You
may find yourself wondering what inspired the poet to write this poem.
Here’s a link to a news item that you may find interesting….http://www.ethicsoup.com/2009/07/where-is-emmett-tills-coffin-where-are-the-babyland-graves-.htmlSlide12
Shifts
Usually characterized by a change in mood or tone. Here’s what to look for:
A new stanza
Transition words (but, yet, however)Change in dictionChange in speakerUnusual punctuationSlide13
Can you identify any shifts?
By the time they cracked me open again, topside, abandoned in a toolshed, I had become another kind of nest. Not many people connect possums with Chicago,
but this is where the city ends, after all, and I float still, after the footfalls fade and the roots bloom around us. The fact was, everything that worked for my young man
worked for my new tenants. The fact was, he had been gone for years. They lifted him from my
embrace, and I was empty, ready. That’s how the possums found me, friend,
dry-docked, a tattered mercy hull. Once I held a boy who didn’t look like a boy. When they finally remembered, they peeked through my clear top. Then their wild surprise.Slide14
Title (Again!)
“Emmett Till’s Glass-Top Casket”
Re-examine the title.
Before, it was just a surface examination. Now you can apply your analysis to it.
Look over your original guess/interpretation and see if you still agree.
What are the differences between the surface meaning and the deeper meaning? Is there use of an extended metaphor or conceit?
Does the title use any allusions, alliteration, metaphors which apply to the deeper meaning of the poem?
In the context of the poem, does the title suggest a possible theme?Slide15
Theme
Themes are best stated in sentence form: “love” isn’t very specific; “love conquers all” is better.
What’s the subject?
Who is the speaker, what situation are they in, and how do they feel about the situation?Is there more than one speaker or attitude about the subject? Why?How does the poet’s use of word choice and other poetic devices help the reader better understand the poem?Slide16
Finally…
…and now you should have an interpretation of the poem that you can back up with supporting details.
It may or may not be what the poet was attempting to express, but at least you can support your interpretation intelligently.