Grimms' Fairy Tale "The Giant and the Tailor" Close Reading Worksheet

Support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of comprehension and analysis questions on the short story “The Giant and the Tailor” by the Brothers Grimm. A variety of question types are included to help prepare for standardized testing scenarios: vocabulary-in-context questions, main idea questions, detail questions, author’s craft questions, and more. The short story has an estimated Lexile range of 900 to 1000, making it an appropriate supplement to fantasy fiction and fairy tale units for high school. An answer key and copy of the public domain text are included. 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, ultimately, will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking.

By completing this exercise, students will:

• Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
• Cite textual evidence in support of claims
• Write with clarity and precision
• Apply knowledge of various literary devices including situational irony, dramatic irony, and sibilance
• Define complex words, phrases, and concepts (credulity)
• Verify interpretations of words and phrases using reference materials such as a dictionary or thesaurus
• Make logical inferences about character motivations
• Discern tone in context
• Paraphrase dialogue
• Isolate a true statement among falsehoods
• Defend whether the giant’s description of being “clownish and stupid” is fair
• Articulate a lesson this narrative teaches about interpersonal relationships