TPCASTT Poetry Analysis

Title & Author of the Poem: ​Facing it byYusef Komunyakaa, 1988

Title ​Before you even think about reading the poetry or - Coming face to face with something or someone literally
trying to analyze it, speculate on what you think the
- Facing your fears or trauma
poem ​might b​ e about based upon the title. Often time
authors conceal meaning in the title and give clues in the - Enduring a bad situation
title. Jot down what you think this poem will be about… - Coming face to face with an ominous occurrence

Paraphrase ​Before you begin thinking about The author begins the poem talking about how he is lost in the black Vietnam memorial
meaning or tying to analyze the poem, don't overlook the
wall. He speaks upon how he promised himself that he would not cry and how he feels as
literal meaning of the poem. One of the biggest problems
that students often make in poetry analysis is jumping to though he is part of the wall (stone) but how he’s flesh. Then, he goes on to speak about
conclusions before understanding what is taking place in how he feels as though his reflection is preying pon the live him and that he is the victim.
the poem. When you paraphrase a poem, write in your He also expects to find his name there because he feels as though he has not moved on and
own words exactly what happens in the poem. Look at belongs on the list with the other men. Later he has a flashback to an occurrence in the war
the number of sentences in the poem—your paraphrase
in which he lost a fellow man to a booby trap in world war 1. At the end of the poem he
should have exactly the same number. This technique is
especially helpful for poems written in the 17th and 19th explains how two different women walk by but do not have any true sentimental
centuries. Sometimes your teacher may allow you to connection like he does.
summarize ​what happens in the poem. Make sure that
you understand the difference between a ​paraphrase ​and
a ​summary.​

Craft ​This refers to any and all poetic devices, Extended Metaphor- Komunyakaa utilizes this to express his feelings in which he believes
focusing on how such devices contribute to the
meaning, the effect, or both of a poem. You may
he is obligated to carry these men's lives on. For instance, he illustrates himself as “a
consider imagery, figures of speech (simile, metaphor, window” while a “white vet’s image floats closer to [him]” (25-27). In this sense he feels
personification, symbolism, etc), denotation and like a window from past to present with the lives of those lost reaching out to him in hopes
connotation, point of view, and sound devices to carry on their legacy.
(alliteration, onomatopoeia, rhythm, and rhyme). It is
not necessary that you identify all the poetic devices Imagery- The author utilizes imagery in order to paint a picture for the reader, displaying
within the poem. The ones you do identify should be his exact feelings while in the presence of the memorial. Through his explanation of how
seen as a way of supporting the conclusions you are “[his] clouded reflection eyes [him] like a bird of prey” conveying the idea that he felt
going to draw about the poem. victimized by his own past (6-7).
 Symbolism- Symbolism conveys the true juxtaposition between objects and beings in the
poem pertaining to the theme of being trapped in past trauma. Komunyakaa makes
reference to a “red bird’s wings cutting across [his] stare” giving way to his direct
explanation of such as a “plane in the sky” (22-24). He does this to emphasize ideas of
freedom with the sky and birds, except the red pigmented bird and its wings cutting refers
to the blood and pain caused by the war. Thus, the plane depicted should be depicted as a
reference to freedom rather than the way its ominous depiction reflects upon the war.

Attitude​ ​Having examined the poem's devices and - The author feels highly burdened and trapped as the past holds him from moving
clues closely, you are now ready to explore the multiple
attitudes that may be present in the poem. Examination
on and feeling the need to keep the mens legacies alive through his own. He
of diction, images, and details suggests the speaker's struggles with his connection to normal civilians but tries extremely hard to do so.
attitude and contributes to understanding. You may refer - The author goes into detail as he attacks himself for showing emotion when seeing
to the list of words on ​Tone t​ hat will help you. the memorial explaining how it took a lot out of him.
Remember that usually the tone or attitude cannot be
named with a single word Think ​complexity.

Shift ​Rarely does a poem begin and end the poetic ​I truly do not see a shift in this poem.
experience in the same place. As is true of most of us,
the poet's understanding of an experience is a gradual
realization, and the poem is a reflection of that
understanding or insight. Watch for the following keys
to shifts:
• key words, (but, yet, however, although)
• punctuation (dashes, periods, colons, ellipsis)
• stanza divisions
• changes in line or stanza length or both
• irony
• changes in sound that may indicate changes in meaning
• changes in diction

Title Revisited ​Now look at the title again, but this ​The title represents how the war veterans must face their grief and traumatic war
time on an interpretive level. What new insight does the
title provide in understanding the poem.
experiences whether they would like to or not. In this case the man does so in a physical
manner by visiting the memorial but the poem goes much deeper because of the emotional
sentiment and connection he exhibits.
Theme ​What is the poem saying about the human - Soldiers extreme trauma creates strong attachment leading soldiers getting caught
experience, motivation, or condition? What subject or
subjects does the poem address? What do you learn
in the past
about those subjects? What idea does the poet want you - There is a societal disconnect with the un-apathetic and ignorant feelings towards
to take away concerning these subjects? Remember that the soldiers traumatic war experiences
the theme of any work of literature is stated in a
complete sentence and expresses a clear lesson for the
reader.

Thesis Statement: ​By combining theme and craft, In the poem, ​Facing It​, author Yusef Komunyakaa utilizes extended metaphors and
please construct a formal thesis statement
imagery in order to display the societal disconnect, due to the ignorance and un-apathetic
nature of civilians to war veterans' struggles.

How to write a THESIS STATEMENT for POETRY: ​Provided by Mrs. Blevins :)

EXAMPLE of a THESIS STATEMENT​ you will be required to master next year:

In William Shakespeare’s ​provocative, heartbreaking​ tragedy, ​Othello,​ he ​utilizes​/uses/illustrates/demonstrates/shows/depicts both

Green illustrates my voice/opinion words;