TP-CASTT Practice - PowerPoint Presentation

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.