Tone: Poet’s attitude towards his/her subject

· Choice of words and images:

“Love’s Inconsistency,” 827 (Ll. 2, 3, 5)

“The Road Not Taken,” 1011 (Ll. 2, 16)

· How the words are put together (syntax):

“The Man He Killed,” 890 (Stanzas 3 and 4)

Denotative Meaning: Dictionary Definition:

· Playing with 2+ meanings (double entendre):

“The Man He Killed,” (final stanza):

a. Quaint: odd; out of date

b. Curious: odd; hard to/wanting to understand

“The Road Not Taken,” (final stanza):

a. Hence: after this, because of this

Connotative Meaning: Associated Meaning:

· A meaning that has built up around a word:

“The Road Not Taken”: Black (12), Sigh (16)

*Connotative meanings can become denotative if they are pervasive enough: Rough; Green

Rough:

Not smoothà Difficult to travelà Hard person

Green:

Color of new lifeà Inexperienced