Foster general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading skills for high school and college with this set of analysis worksheets on Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night. A variety of question types facilitates the process of analyzing character motivations, examining how word choices influence a reader’s interpretations, applying knowledge of literary devices, articulating ideas in writing with clarity and precision, and preparing for standardized testing scenarios. Answer keys are provided. All materials are delivered as Word Documents and PDFs. By engaging with these resources, students will: Identify and articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly Discern the intended effect of Shakespeare’s figurative language in the context of a passage Explore cause-and-effect relationships Use context clues to draw reasonable inferences about Orsino Apply knowledge of various literary devices including metaphor, simile, hyperbole, sibilance, alliteration, assonance, consonance, personification, hyperbole, oxymoron, situational irony, dramatic irony, and more Define complex vocabulary in the context of a passage Determine the primary function of given passages Compare and contrast Orsino and Olivia Conduct brief research on classical mythology – more specifically the tale of Arion and the dolphin – and draw parallels between the mythological figure and Sebastian Analyze the author’s craft to discern which literary device is most applicable to a specific portion of text Explore Toby’s attitude toward Olivia’s behavior Identify the greater significance of a given detail Identify evidence in support of claims Isolate factual details about plot from false statements Compare and contrast Viola and Sebastian Write ideas with clarity and precision Compare and contrast Toby and Andrew Compare and contrast Malvolio and a group consisting of Toby, Andrew, and Maria Analyze how complex characters behave and interact Consider the meaning of a given word in order to determine its most suitable synonym

Support the development of close reading skills for high school with this complete bundle of worksheets composed of inference questions covering every individual scene in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. These resources will encourage students to analyze how complex characters develop, explore character motivations, interpret figurative expressions, apply knowledge of literary devices, develop greater confidence in decoding Shakespearean language, and much more. Answer keys are included. All materials are delivered in a zip file containing printable Word Document and PDF versions. Use these resources for independent or small group engagement with the text; they may lead to thoughtful discussions that contribute meaningfully to a culture of active learning in high school English classrooms. With these instructional materials, students will demonstrate the following: An ability to define complex vocabulary in context An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character motivations An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character relationships An ability to analyze the text for literary devices such as foreshadowing, situational irony, dramatic irony, theme, symbolism, dynamic character, and more An ability to identify the function of a particular passage An ability to find and articulate relevant textual details in support of a claim An ability to analyze context clues to discern and articulate the significance of a given detail An ability to articulate what the text indicates both explicitly and implicitly An ability to write with clarity and precision

Challenge high school students to push beyond basic reading comprehension and exercise close reading analysis skills while engaging with Othello by William Shakespeare. Given the objective nature of the multiple choice questions, each close reading activity is rigorous enough for students to find deeper meaning in the text, yet convenient enough for teachers to quickly and efficiently gather data on their students’ textual analysis skills. Included are fifteen close reading worksheets, each addressing an individual scene, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By the end of the play, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the text Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Analyze the author’s craft, discerning how Shakespeare’s language influences the audience’s perception of Iago Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, simile, allusion, epiphany, foreshadowing, personification, verbal irony, dramatic irony, situational irony, and more Explore themes in the play Discern the tone of given passages Determine the functions of given scenes Articulate the significance of given details Articulate how dialogue contributes to the development of suspense Articulate how the setting contributes to a sense of uncertainty Consider how the imagery of a willow tree is relevant to the content of Desdemona’s song Explore cause-and-effect relationships Cite specific, relevant textual evidence in support of a claim or idea Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision