Ideal for units on Gothic poetry with supernatural elements (especially during fall/autumn and Halloween), this poem analysis worksheet helps high school readers interpret "The Haunted Castle" by Lila Price Savino, a piece about the ghosts of a once-noble family continuing to celebrate in their decaying ancestral castle, symbolizing the influence of the past on the present. An answer key is included. By engaging with this poetry activity, students will:
Interpret metaphorical language in context (e.g., "snowy hands" and "narrow beds").
Infer the intended effects of words and phrases (e.g., "flowing" and "gliding").
Apply knowledge of literary devices (e.g., oxymoron and personification).
Determine the symbolism associated with an object (e.g., the castle).
Explore themes in context (e.g., what the poem suggests about modern civilization).
Describe tone in context.
Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. (Alternatively, a Google option is available.)
More resources for the Halloween season are available:
"Out of the Grave" by Eldridge Morton - Google and printable
"The Dogs of Salem" by David H. Keller - Google and printable
"The Graveyard Rats" by Henry Kuttner - Google and printable
"The Vow on Halloween" by Lyllian Huntley Harris - Google and printable
"The Werewolf Snarls" by Manly Wade Wellman - Google and printable
Ideal for units on Gothic poetry with supernatural elements (especially during fall/autumn and Halloween), this poem analysis worksheet helps high school readers interpret "The Haunted Castle" by Lila Price Savino, a piece about the ghosts of a once-noble family continuing to celebrate in their decaying ancestral castle, symbolizing the influence of the past on the present. An answer key is included. By engaging with this poetry activity, students will:
Interpret metaphorical language in context (e.g., "snowy hands" and "narrow beds").
Infer the intended effects of words and phrases (e.g., "flowing" and "gliding").
Apply knowledge of literary devices (e.g., oxymoron and personification).
Determine the symbolism associated with an object (e.g., the castle).
Explore themes in context (e.g., what the poem suggests about modern civilization).
Describe tone in context.
Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. (Alternatively, a Google option is available.)
More resources for the Halloween season are available:
"Out of the Grave" by Eldridge Morton - Google and printable
"The Dogs of Salem" by David H. Keller - Google and printable
"The Graveyard Rats" by Henry Kuttner - Google and printable
"The Vow on Halloween" by Lyllian Huntley Harris - Google and printable
"The Werewolf Snarls" by Manly Wade Wellman - Google and printable
