The Oak

Worksheet Description

This worksheet provides the poem “The Oak” by Alfred Lord Tennyson for students to read and analyze. Students are prompted to delve into the content by answering three questions about the poem’s subject, the speaker’s tone, and the mood conveyed. The poem uses the metaphor of an oak tree to depict various stages and qualities of life, juxtaposing youth and old age, and the changing seasons to reflect life’s cyclical nature. The questions are structured to guide students in thinking critically about the poem’s thematic elements and the language used.

The worksheet’s educational purpose is to develop students’ literary analysis skills, specifically focusing on mood and tone. It teaches students to differentiate between the speaker’s tone—which is the poet’s attitude conveyed in the poem—and the mood, which is the emotional atmosphere that affects the reader. Students learn to interpret poetry by considering the choice of words and imagery and how these contribute to the overall feel of the poem. This activity aims to enhance students’ appreciation and understanding of poetic devices and their effects within a literary context.