For many high school readers, horror and supernatural fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe features elements consistent with both genres: a Gothic mansion, psychological deterioration, heightened emotions, grim imagery, and more. With this challenging worksheet composed of high-order questions, English 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. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are 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 dominant character traits and motivations Examine how complex characters think, behave, and interact Determine the greater significance of a given detail Apply knowledge of various sound and literary devices including alliteration, personification, euphemism, foreshadowing, situational irony, hyperbole, epiphany, juxtaposition, and more Articulate the intended effects of various sound devices, literary devices, and figurative expressions Analyze Poe’s use of descriptive language to infer the author’s intent Conduct brief research on Swiss painter Henry Fuseli to develop greater understanding of Poe’s allusion to him Explore the connection between the plot of the short story and the content of the poem titled “The Haunted Palace” Examine how the author successfully intensifies suspense in the context of a passage Analyze the connotative significance of the narrator’s labeling Roderick a hypochondriac Identify details that contribute to a dreamlike or nightmarish atmosphere Discern the functions of particular details Make logical inferences about the resolution Defend claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

For many high school readers, horror and supernatural fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe features elements consistent with both genres: a Gothic mansion, psychological deterioration, heightened emotions, grim imagery, and more. This multiple choice quiz covering “The Fall of the House of Usher” helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Questions pertain to the following key details: How the narrator comes upon the House of Usher The narrator’s descriptions of the House of Usher What the narrator means when he refers to “shadowy fancies” A characterization of the relationship between the narrator and Roderick The content of the letter Roderick wrote the narrator What the narrator means when he refers to Roderick’s “reserve [which] had always been excessive and habitual. The Ushers’ ancestry A description of the narrator as he first explores the House of Usher Roderick’s ill appearance Madeline’s relationship to Roderick Madeline’s unusual medical condition Roderick’s ability to play the guitar Why Roderick wants to keep Madeline’s corpse in the house A realization that Roderick and Madeline were twins A strange sight through the window Peculiar noises Roderick’s terrible fear regarding Madeline Roderick’s death The narrative’s resolution

For many high school readers, psychological fiction and horror are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Premature Burial” by Edgar Allan Poe features elements consistent with both genres: a stream-of-consciousness technique, the intensification of an irrational fear, tales of being buried alive, and more. This multiple choice quiz covering “The Premature Burial” helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The exposition The identities of those mentioned who suffered premature burials The intentions of Julien Bossuet The narrator’s beliefs concerning premature burials The narrator’s medical condition Precautions taken by the narrator to avoid death by premature burial Where the narrator seeks shelter during a storm How a premature burial scare affects the narrator’s life moving forward The narrator’s evaluation of human imagination

For many high school readers, supernatural fiction and fantasy are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Doom that Came to Sarnath” by H.P. Lovecraft features plot elements consistent with the aforementioned genres: the plundering of a race of lizard people, shadows that seemingly originate from the moon, the vanishing of an entire city, and more. This multiple choice quiz covering “The Doom that Came to Sarnath” (estimated Lexile Measure of 1300-1400) helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The name Sarnath used to be known by A physical description of the beings who once inhabited the area The name of the beings’ leader The object worshiped by the beings The value humans saw in this region The fate of the strange beings and the object they worshiped The function of the amphitheater The celebration humans held in commemoration of genocide A strange event that takes place annually The amount of time that has passed since the killing of the beings The fate of the kings and their noblemen The resolution

For many high school readers, supernatural fiction and fantasy are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “Polaris” by H.P. Lovecraft features plot elements consistent with the aforementioned genres: a narrator of questionable sanity, a dreamscape setting, the conflict between imagination and reality, and more. This multiple choice quiz covering “Polaris” helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The narrator’s home Medical conditions from which the protagonist suffers Setting The role of the Inutos The strange qualities of the protagonist’s dreams The narrator’s strengths and weaknesses in the context of the war The job assigned to the protagonist The narrator’s observations of Polaris How the narrator fails his people The resolution

For many high school readers, supernatural fiction and fantasy are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Tree” by H.P. Lovecraft features plot elements consistent with the aforementioned genres: allusions to Greek mythology, inexplicable vanishings, the personification of inanimate objects, and more. This multiple choice quiz covering “The Tree” helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The role of the beekeeper The protagonists’ jobs The nature of the relationship between the protagonists The artistic inspirations of each individual protagonist The Tyrant of Syracuse’s motivations The goddess whom the Tyrant wishes to honor Kalos’ reaction to his grave illness The request Kalos makes of his friend upon his death The promise Musides makes to Kalos prior to his death The length of time it takes Musides to complete his assigned task Peculiar characteristics of the tree The fate of Musides and his work

Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this set of three rigorous worksheets covering H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “The Call of Cthulhu,” a narrative of special appeal to those interested in horror, science fiction, and the supernatural. Each worksheet corresponds to a particular section of the story (“The Horror in Clay,” “The Tale of Inspector Legrasse,” and “The Madness from the Sea”). Answer keys and a copy of the public domain text are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. These resources may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using these resources for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly. By engaging with these close reading activities, students will: Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Determine the tone of a particular passage Discern the author’s intent and its effect on readers. Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Apply knowledge of literary devices including idiom, euphemism, simile, metaphor, invective, personification, hubris, hyperbole, and onomatopoeia Draw parallels between “The Call of Cthulhu” and the epic The Odyssey Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this set of three plot-based quizzes covering H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “The Call of Cthulhu.” This set of materials may double as guided reading handouts to promote active engagement with fiction. Answer keys and a copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The identity of the narrator The narrator’s relation to Angell Angell’s profession The true cause of Angell’s death General assumptions about the nature of Angell’s death The narrator’s inheritance Characteristics of the sculpture the narrator receives The identity of a young sculptor A general character description of Wilcox The effects of a natural disaster Angell’s curiosity about Wilcox The reason Wilcox stops visiting Angell The narrator’s attitude toward Wilcox The collective experiences of artists and authors Legrasse’s home base Characteristics of the idol Legrasse possesses The academics’ collective reaction to the idol Professor Webb’s travels Legrasse’s account of the cultists Characteristics of the idol the cultists appear to worship The cultists’ name for bizarre beings The supposed origin of the strange beings The current location of the bizarre beings The manner of communication between the beings and humans The beings’ specific messages for humanity The cultists’ belief concerning the fate of humanity The narrator’s belief concerning his great uncle’s death The name of an important newspaper The content of an article in the newspaper The name of a ship Johansen and his peers attack The narrator’s travels around the world The identity of a Johansen relative whom the narrator meets The true cause of Johansen’s death What the narrator receives as a result of his visit to Norway The bizarre characteristic of a city Johansen visits The comparison between Cthulhu and a Greek mythological figure Events leading to Briden’s death A major decision Johansen makes The result of the major decision What the narrator decides to do with the records he has acquired The narrator’s assessment of his own fate

For many high school readers, science fiction, supernatural fiction, and horror are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “From Beyond” by H.P. Lovecraft is a compelling short story that features elements consistent with those genres: advanced technology, parallel realities, alien life, and more. This multiple choice quiz on “From Beyond” helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Crawford Tillinghast’s beliefs The purpose of an advanced machine The narrator’s connection to Tillinghast The narrator’s advice for Tillinghast The physical transformation of Tillinghast The location of Tillinghast’s lab The effects of the machine on the narrator The narrator’s emotional reaction to his supernatural experiences Tillinghast’s advice for staying safe The collective fate of Tillinghast’s servants Peculiar creatures surrounding the characters The fate of the machine Tillinghast’s apparent cause of death The police officers’ assumptions about the narrator

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering “The Lurking Fear” by H.P. Lovecraft, a short story with elements of horror and supernatural fiction: ghosts, unsolved murders, secret investigations, and bizarre creatures. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate engagement with the text. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: General description of the narrator Setting A gruesome inciting incident Preparations for an emergency escape Secondary characters and their fates Natural disasters that transpire The distinguishing physical characteristic of an antagonist The narrator’s peculiar observations Complications facing the narrator A new demonic attack A physical description of monstrous beings The beings’ horrifying behavior The resolution

For many high school readers, fantasy and horror are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “What the Moon Brings” by H.P. Lovecraft is a brief, yet compelling short story that features elements consistent with both genres: a bizarre dreamscape, an anxious narrator, and the discovery of an underwater city. (The briefness of the story makes it an appropriate time-filler for awkward gaps in teaching schedules.) This rigorous worksheet covering “What the Moon Brings” helps English teachers extend student learning beyond reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. A detailed answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will: Articulate what the text states both explicitly and implicitly Discern the purpose of em dashes as they are used in context Apply knowledge of various literary devices including personification, foreshadowing, epiphany, and sibilance Explore the author’s diction to draw reasoned inferences about characterization Determine the intended effect of juxtaposition as it is applied in the text Examine plot-based statements for accuracy Choose an applicable theme in the context of a given passage Explore the symbolism of a black condor as it is portrayed in the narrative Defend ideas and claims with valid reasoning and textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

For many high school readers, Gothic fiction, fantasy, and horror are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “Cool Air” by H.P. Lovecraft is a compelling short story that features elements consistent with those genres: noxious chemicals, medical experiments, desperate attempts to achieve immortality, and more. This multiple choice quiz on “Cool Air” helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The narrator’s reaction to cool air The narrator’s philosophical beliefs The reason the narrator moves from apartment to apartment The narrator’s treatment of his lodgemates Peculiar smells that permeate the building Mrs. Herrero’s role in the story How the narrator came to know Dr. Muñoz The narrator’s initial perception of Dr. Muñoz Dr. Muñoz’s beliefs concerning the power of human will Dr. Muñoz’s medical practices The reason Dr. Muñoz becomes a “gruesome companion” Dr. Muñoz’s independence A habit Dr. Muñoz develops The consequences of a broken refrigeration system A discovery in Dr. Muñoz’s apartment A stunning revelation