Assess students’ understanding of how denotation (literal meaning) and connotation (associative/emotional meaning) shape a poem’s tone and a reader’s mood. Tasks include: distinguishing tone vs. mood, identifying denotative vs. connotative word choices in short poems/excerpts, citing textual evidence to support interpretations, explaining how shifts in connotation alter tone and mood, and performing a brief diction revision to achieve a different tone. Designed for Grade 9–12, medium difficulty, focused on analytical reading and concise written responses.