Final answer:
To identify the speaker's tone and their feelings towards death in a poem, you should analyze the diction, connotation, syntax, and themes. The choice of words, the structure of sentences, and the overall themes of the poem can indicate the speaker's feelings towards death. Always support your interpretation with evidence from the text.
Step-by-step explanation:
Identifying a speaker's tone in a poem involves analyzing the word choice, rhetorical devices, and the subject matter. The speaker's attitude towards death can often be determined through the diction (the choice of words) and connotation (the emotional implications and associations of words). Look for words that contain strong emotions or images. For instance, if the speaker refers to death as a 'stern ruler', he may view death negatively. Conversely, if he refers to death as a 'gentle guide', he may view death positively.
A careful reading of the poem will reveal the words that identify the speaker's tone. Also consider syntax, or sentence structure, and how it influences the feel of the poem. A poem with abrupt, short sentences may present a different tone than one with flowing, rhythmic sentences.
Lastly, the themes explored in the poem could indicate the speaker's feelings towards death. Themes of acceptance, fear, curiosity, or reverence can all suggest different attitudes towards death. Your interpretation of the speaker's tone should be anchored in and supportable by the poem's text.
Learn more about Tone in Poetry