Use this poetry analysis worksheet to help high school English students explore a short poem for the Halloween, fall/autumn, and back-to-school seasons: "The Witch Girl" by A. Leslie (originally published in Weird Tales). An answer key is included. This poem uses surreal imagery, allusions to folklore, and ironic details to create a Gothic atmosphere and explore how identity is shaped from birth. By engaging with this poetry activity, students will:
Conduct research on leprechaun lore to make connections to the poem's speaker.
Make evidence-based inferences (e.g., to identify why the author applies situational irony).
Analyze the author's use of em-dashes in context.
Discern the function of a given stanza.
Describe tone in context.
Articulate the greater significance of a given detail (e.g., the lover "whose hair was like the sun").
Apply knowledge of poetry/literary devices (e.g., allusion and onomatopoeia).
Consider themes in context.
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 poetry analysis worksheet to help high school English students explore a short poem for the Halloween, fall/autumn, and back-to-school seasons: "The Witch Girl" by A. Leslie (originally published in Weird Tales). An answer key is included. This poem uses surreal imagery, allusions to folklore, and ironic details to create a Gothic atmosphere and explore how identity is shaped from birth. By engaging with this poetry activity, students will:
Conduct research on leprechaun lore to make connections to the poem's speaker.
Make evidence-based inferences (e.g., to identify why the author applies situational irony).
Analyze the author's use of em-dashes in context.
Discern the function of a given stanza.
Describe tone in context.
Articulate the greater significance of a given detail (e.g., the lover "whose hair was like the sun").
Apply knowledge of poetry/literary devices (e.g., allusion and onomatopoeia).
Consider themes in context.
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
