Poetry Analysis: TPCASTT: i,too

Title I too, Sing America by Langston Huges

Before you read, look at the title.
What do you think the poem is
going to be about?

Paraphrase
Read the poem. Paraphrase each I am a citizen of America.
stanza.

I am a African-American, so the whites send me away when

guests are over.

Even after that, I am happy.

I better myself to get stronger.

One day, I will be at the table with the guests.

Nobody will dream of telling me to leave.

They will see what an amazing person I am, and they will be
embarrassed of the way they acted towards me.

I, too, am an American,just like the rest of them.

Connotation The word "tomorrow" is symbolic of the future and a new

Look at things like figurative
language, word choice, and poetic
devices to discover deeper
meaning.
beginning. When Hughes writes "They send me to eat in the
kitchen when company comes," it is symbolic of the
discrimination that blacks had to face from whites

An emotional cry against racism and segregation.t

Attitude
What is the author’s tone? How
do you know?

there is a shift in mood and tone after the line "Tomorrow" after this line
the poem has a proud tone The narrator says phrases such as "Nobody'’
Shifts dare say to me" and "They'll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed"
Do you see shifts in tone, subject,
These lines show how the narrator is proud of the way he is and is not
rhyme scheme, etc?
ashamed of it.
 Title I realize that the title is specifically targeting the equality, or
Look at the title again after
analysis. Were you right in
lack of equality, between whites and African- Americans.
guessing what it was about? What Although both races love their country the same, blacks still
changed?
had to face inequality based on the color of their skin.

Theme The vision of ending racism and segregation, and everyone's

What is the poet’s message? equal rights
 Poetry Analysis: TPCASTT: if we must die
Title
Before you read, look at the title.
What do you think the poem is
going to be about?
Paraphrase
Read the poem. Paraphrase each
stanza.
Connotation
Look at things like figurative
language, word choice, and poetic
devices to discover deeper
meaning.
If We Must Die by Claude Mckay
line 1: If we die, let us be memorable.
Line 2: We've been running, now we're surrounded with nowhere to go.
Line 3: The people around us are screaming and shouting.
Line 4: They are entertained by what is going to happen to us.
Line 5: We have to be brave even though we are going to die.
Line 6: That way these people won't be fully satisfied with our deaths.
Line 7: Our deaths will be remembered.
Line 8: That way those who killed us will be punished.
Line 9: We must face our enemies.
Line 10: Although we're small, we must have courage.
Line 11: They'll hit us a thousand times, but we'll only have to hit them
once.
Line 12: Who is going to die?
Line 13: We wil stand strong against our enemies.
Line 14: Weak, but never giving up!
The rhyme scheme that took place was
ABABCDCDEFEFGG. "If we must die," was a sign of
repetition. The poem also uses Iambic pentameter
Personification also took place in line 6 saying that their
blood is precious, but blood can't be precious.
 Attitude people to resist their oppressors, violently and
What is the author’s tone? How
bravely. Even if they die in the struggle.
do you know?

Shifts a shift is made at "Oh Kinsmen!" Up until that line, the

Do you see shifts in tone, subject,
rhyme scheme, etc?
speaker talks about how they're basically going to lose the
battle. At the shift it's announced that although the odds are
slim, they must still go into the fight with a brave and good
attitude.

Title The title of this poem means that although their chances of

Look at the title again after

survival during the battle are very slim , they will go in with
analysis. Were you right in courage and fight back until the end.
guessing what it was about? What
changed?

Theme The theme of this poem is, "Fight for what you believe and

What is the poet’s message?

never give up when the odds may be slim."