"Blues Ain't No Mockin Bird" by Toni Cade Bambara Close Reading Questions

For many high school readers, realistic, historical, and young adult fiction are genres that maximize relatability and engagement with literature. “Blues Ain’t No Mockin Bird” by Toni Cade Bambara is a short story focusing on a Black family whose ways of life are being infringed upon by opportunistic, politically motivated filmmakers. With this challenging worksheet composed of high-order questions, English Language Arts teachers will help students extend beyond basic reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and save valuable time at home without sacrificing quality and rigor in the classroom. A detailed answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:

• Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
• Explore how complex characters think, behave, and interact with others
• Infer character motivations
• Articulate the function of a specific character (Cathy)
• Make logical inferences about the author’s intent
• Apply knowledge of various literary devices including metaphor, idiom, and onomatopoeia
• Isolate an example of figurative language from among several options
• Choose an opinion with which Granny would most likely agree based on an anecdote she shares with her family
• Determine which character or characters are represented in the character of Goldilocks
• Identify several ways in which the filmmakers dehumanize Granny and members of her family
• Draw parallels between the American folk hero John Henry and the character of Granddaddy Cain
• Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence
• Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision