Perfect for American Literature classes, seasonal poetry units, and high school English classes broadly, this analysis worksheet covers a festive, uplifting poem by John Kendrick Bangs titled “Halloween.” An answer key is included. In this poem, the writer encourages readers to embrace the fall/autumn season, for it offers opportunities to “forget your sorrows and your wrong” and “reillume the darkened heart.”

By engaging with this poetry activity, students will:

• Conduct research as needed to answer questions related to allusions (e.g., “time for Pippin and for Bob” and “Hunter’s moon”).
• Infer the intended meaning of metaphorical language in context (e.g., “the awesome rod of birch”).
• Discern the intended effect of words as they are used in the text (e.g., filch and straining).
• Describe tone in context.
• Apply knowledge of literary devices (e.g., hyperbole).
• Articulate how situational irony applies to a given stanza.
• Explain the symbolism of ghosts in the context of a given stanza.
• Consider themes in context.
• Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and textual evidence.