TP-CASTT for ‘ghost TP-CASTT for ‘ghost child’child’

Becka O’Neil and McKayla Becka O’Neil and McKayla BeardBeard

T- TitleT- Title

We infer that the poem We infer that the poem ‘ghost child’ would be ‘ghost child’ would be about a child who has about a child who has died from AIDS or is died from AIDS or is dying. The child may be dying. The child may be unborn.unborn.

P-Paraphrase P-Paraphrase

It’s about a child, screaming It’s about a child, screaming for mercy, wondering why for mercy, wondering why God has forsaken her. In God has forsaken her. In ‘ghost child’, the child ‘ghost child’, the child wants to know if the red wants to know if the red ribbon of AIDS can be lifted. ribbon of AIDS can be lifted.

C-Connotation C-Connotation Repetition- The speaker repeats “am I still your Repetition- The speaker repeats “am I still your

child?” and “shout” child?” and “shout” Simile- The speaker uses the simile “to spring Simile- The speaker uses the simile “to spring

once again like rivers in summer.” Which we once again like rivers in summer.” Which we interpret to mean to feel alive.interpret to mean to feel alive.

Stanzas- The stanzas end in ways that add Stanzas- The stanzas end in ways that add definition and feeling to the poem. definition and feeling to the poem.

Tone- The tone is somber to the point of Tone- The tone is somber to the point of seeming creepy. seeming creepy.

Symbolism- Instead of saying AIDS, they Symbolism- Instead of saying AIDS, they mentioned the red ribbon, which is the symbol mentioned the red ribbon, which is the symbol for AIDS for AIDS

A- Attitude A- Attitude The attitude of the poem and the The attitude of the poem and the

speaker is desperate and depresses speaker is desperate and depresses the reader.the reader.

We think that the poet wants to point We think that the poet wants to point out the innocent that are hurting out the innocent that are hurting because of AIDS because of AIDS

Things like ‘Everyday I think it is the Things like ‘Everyday I think it is the last’, ‘I shout; shout; and scream for last’, ‘I shout; shout; and scream for my blood’ and ‘God! God! Why forsake my blood’ and ‘God! God! Why forsake me; am I still your child?’ me; am I still your child?’

S-Shift S-Shift We think that it shifts from We think that it shifts from

saddening to desperation saddening to desperation and anger, finally and anger, finally concluding with a feeling concluding with a feeling of why me? of why me?

T-Title (again)T-Title (again)The title ‘ghost child’ now means The title ‘ghost child’ now means

something almost completely something almost completely different to us.different to us.

It now means to us that the It now means to us that the speaker was once a ghost child, speaker was once a ghost child, living with God before this life. living with God before this life. Now, She feels forsaken by her Now, She feels forsaken by her Heavenly Father, dreading being Heavenly Father, dreading being a ‘ghost child’ once again. a ‘ghost child’ once again.

T-Theme T-Theme We feel that the theme of the We feel that the theme of the poem was to bring awareness to poem was to bring awareness to all the children dying of AIDS, all the children dying of AIDS, dying from their parents dying from their parents mistakes. mistakes.

It shows the desperation, anger It shows the desperation, anger and agony each victim feels and agony each victim feels inside. inside.