Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 4 of William Shakespeare’s King Lear with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a quiz on characters and plot, seven close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Materials in this bundle 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 activities, students will do the following: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Determine the functions of given scenes Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Evaluate whether Lear is better off or worse off as a result of plot developments Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, onomatopoeia, hyperbole, simile, symbolism, and more Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works

This bundle of 20 close reading exercises promotes active reading strategies, makes student engagement with text more visible, and helps improve overall student comprehension of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. By completing these activities, students will read to identify what the text says explicitly and implicitly, apply literary devices, interpret figurative expressions, analyze character motivations, define vocabulary in context, discern tone, and more. All close reads are editable and include answer keys and/or sample annotations. The following are covered: Act 1 prologue Act 1, scene 1 Act 1, scene 2 Act 1, scene 3 Act 1, scene 5 Act 2 prologue Act 2, scene 1 Act 2, scene 2 Act 2, scene 3 Act 2, scene 4 Act 2, scene 5 Act 2, scene 6 Act 3, scene 1 Act 3, scene 2 Act 3, scene 3 Act 3, scene 4 Act 4, scene 1 Act 4, scene 3 Act 4, scene 5 Act 5, scene 1 Act 5, scene 3