"Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston Close Reading Worksheet

“Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston is a short story about a woman of color who must reconcile the resentment she feels toward her abusive husband with her faith—a task that threatens to compromise the integrity of her soul. This close reading analysis worksheet helps English teachers extend reading comprehension and support the process of critical thinking. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing editable Word Documents and printable PDFs. By completing the close reading activity, students will perform the following tasks:

• Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
• Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
• Choose the most suitable synonym to replace a word without changing fundamental meaning
• Analyze nuances in words with similar meanings
• Explore cause-and-effect relationships
• Determine the functions of given details
• Make inferences about historical context based on aspects of plot
• Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
• Make predictions about the protagonist’s future behavior based on context clues
• Analyze the author’s word choices to articulate how they contribute to character development
• Apply knowledge of literary devices including euphemism, oxymoron, personification, symbolism, situational irony, and more
• Discern the tone of a given passage
• Support claims with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
• Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
• Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary materials