Printable worksheet titled "Analyzing Poetry Worksheet" that guides students through analyzing poetry using the SOAPSTONES method, including questions about speaker, occasion, audience, purpose, subject, tone, and style.

- The speaker is the narrator or voice delivering the poem, often distinct from the author; the writing reveals their perspective, emotions, and experiences.
- The occasion is the specific event or context prompting the poem; it defines the time and place where the poem’s action or reflection occurs.
- The audience is the intended readers or listeners; the writer considers them to evoke a particular response or convey a message relevant to their experience.
- The purpose is the reason for writing the poem—whether to persuade, reflect, mourn, celebrate, or provoke thought—and guides what the reader should contemplate.
- The subject is the central topic, person, idea, or event the poem focuses on or describes.
- The tone reflects the author’s attitude toward the subject—such as solemn, joyful, ironic, or angry—and conveys the emotional atmosphere of the poem.
- The author’s style includes word choice, sentence structure, and use of literary devices like metaphor, simile, alliteration, or imagery to create rhythm, mood, and meaning.