Use this worksheet to help high school English students analyze a short poem for the Halloween and back-to-school seasons: "The Haunted Lake" by A. Leslie (originally published in Weird Tales). An answer key is included. This poem uses descriptive imagery, personification, and symbolism to create a Gothic atmosphere and explore the relationship between literal darkness and human fear. By engaging with this poetry activity, students will:
Make evidence-based inferences (e.g., to identify the speaker of the poem).
Explore diction to discern the author's intentions (e.g., demonstrate understanding of why active verbs like writhe and intense descriptors like leprous are used).
Choose the most appropriate synonym to replace a word without changing its fundamental meaning (e.g., vainly).
Discern the function of a given stanza.
Apply knowledge of poetry/literary devices (e.g., alliteration, assonance, personification, and more).
Consider themes in context.
Articulate the symbolism associated with moonlight.
Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. (Alternatively, a Google option is available.)
More Weird Tales 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
Use this worksheet to help high school English students analyze a short poem for the Halloween and back-to-school seasons: "The Haunted Lake" by A. Leslie (originally published in Weird Tales). An answer key is included. This poem uses descriptive imagery, personification, and symbolism to create a Gothic atmosphere and explore the relationship between literal darkness and human fear. By engaging with this poetry activity, students will:
Make evidence-based inferences (e.g., to identify the speaker of the poem).
Explore diction to discern the author's intentions (e.g., demonstrate understanding of why active verbs like writhe and intense descriptors like leprous are used).
Choose the most appropriate synonym to replace a word without changing its fundamental meaning (e.g., vainly).
Discern the function of a given stanza.
Apply knowledge of poetry/literary devices (e.g., alliteration, assonance, personification, and more).
Consider themes in context.
Articulate the symbolism associated with moonlight.
Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. (Alternatively, a Google option is available.)
More Weird Tales 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
