In the introduction of Reading in Secondary Content Areas, it is stated that "Functional language analysis is based in systemic functional linguistics (SFL), a theory that provides a framework for demonstrating how meaning is constructed in particular language choices...Functional language analysis goes beyond- and adds to- these strategies by providing tools for deconstructing texts, ssentence by sentence, to help students process unfamiliar discourse patterns and talk about how meaning is constructed through language choices."
This got me thinking about a worksheet exercise that my high school English teacher gave us and it definitely helped me and my peers tackle poetry analysis. Its an acronym, with each letter standing for a step by step process into which the student analyzes the poem. Take a look and see what you think.
TYPCASTT:
T=Title: Think about the possible meanings that the title could mean.
Y= Your Dictionary: Use it to look up words you don't know; Connotation and Denotation are important in poetry!
P= Paraphrase: Translate the poem into your own words, line by line.
C=Connotation:Look beyond the literal: What is the feeling of the words in the poem? Consider figurative language-symbolism, diction, sound devices (rhyme, meter and alliteration).
A=Attitude: speaker/poet's attitude in the poem; the tone.
S=Shift: Note any shifts in speaker or attitude.
T=Title (again): Look again, this time with a new understanding of the poem.
T=Theme: What is the poet saying? What is the connection to 'real life?'
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