"The Other Gods" by H.P. Lovecraft Close Reading Worksheet

Support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions to complement “The Other Gods” by H.P. Lovecraft. With an estimated Lexile Measure of 1200-1300, this text and its corresponding active reading exercise are appropriate additions to a mythology- or fantasy-themed high school short story unit, especially at the 11th and 12th grade levels. A detailed answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.

This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking.

By completing this exercise, high school students will:

• Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
• Articulate character motivations
• Articulate the means by which characters travel
• Articulate how characters have undergone change
• Clarify relationships between characters
• Articulate how characters achieve objectives
• Analyze how a character demonstrates hubris and the factors that contribute to the manifestation of hubris
• Articulate the purpose of a given paragraph
• Analyze how conflicting allegiances contribute to the development of internal conflict
• Identify and explain multiple examples of situational irony in the text
• Articulate how a character survives, connecting this explanation to a relevant theme
• Write with clarity, logic, and precision