Ideal for units on surreal poetry and the fantasy-romance genre (especially during fall/autumn and Halloween), this poem analysis worksheet helps high school readers interpret “Ghost” by Leona Ames Hill, a tender and nostalgic love poem in which a ghost conveys the means by which it will remain in contact with their loved one. An answer key is included.

By engaging with this poetry activity, students will:

• Analyze the poet’s word choices to infer hidden meanings (e.g., “wander,” “subtle,” and “bid farewell to light”).
• Explore elements of surrealism (e.g., phrases like “shuddering pathway of the night”).
• Make evidence-based inferences about the narrator (e.g., the ghost’s mindset as it related to their loved one).
• Describe tone in context.
• Consider the relationship between meter/structure and mood.
• Apply knowledge of literary devices (e.g., ambiguity)
• Infer the intended effects of the poet’s stylistic techniques (e.g., the decision to use the unclear phrase “loved one”).
• Explore themes in context.
• Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence.