How to find the tone of a poem?

Figuring out the tone of a poem is like figuring out the attitude or voice of the person speaking (the speaker) toward the poem's subject matter. It's not about how you feel (that's the mood), but how the poet/speaker feels. You need to become a detective and look for clues, mainly in the poet's word choice (diction). 1. Analyze the Diction (Word Choice): Are the words formal or informal? Are they harsh and sharp ("bitter," "acidic," "rage") or gentle and soft ("whisper," "serene," "golden")? Strong, evocative words are the most direct signal of tone. 2. Look at Imagery: What kind of pictures is the poem painting? If the imagery is dark, sad, or violent (e.g., storms, decay, shadows), the tone is likely serious, mournful, or bleak. If the imagery is bright, natural, and positive (e.g., sunshine, flowers, laughter), the tone might be joyful, hopeful, or reverent. 3. Consider the Speaker's Attitude: Does the speaker seem sincere, sarcastic, angry, indifferent, celebratory, or wistful? For example, if the poem uses understatement or irony, the tone is likely to be sarcastic or mocking, even if the words themselves seem polite. Once you've collected a few clues, try to use a single, strong adjective to describe the tone (e.g., optimistic, cynical, nostalgic, playful).

I'll give you a simple framework called DIDLS that a lot of literature teachers use—it helps structure your analysis: * Diction: The speaker's word choice (as mentioned above). * Imagery: The sensory details that evoke emotion. * Details: Facts that the author includes or omits. Example: Focusing only on destruction suggests a melancholic tone. * Language: The overall style (formal, slang, poetic, scientific, etc.) and use of figurative language (metaphors, similes). * Syntax: How the sentences are structured. Long, complicated sentences might suggest a formal or contemplative tone, while short, choppy sentences can convey urgency or anger. When analyzing a poem's tone, always ask yourself: "If I were reading this aloud, what emotion would I use in my voice?" That usually gets you very close!