“The Colomber” by Dino Buzzati Close Reading Analysis Worksheet

Help high school students improve fluency, stamina, text comprehension, and close reading analysis of the formal elements of fiction with this set of rigorous, text-dependent questions on the allegorical short story titled “The Colomber” by Dino Buzzati. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.

This resource may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.

By completing this activity, students will:

• Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
• Apply knowledge of figurative language with emphasis on simile and metaphor
• Determine the meaning of a complex word as it is used in the text
• Infer Stefano’s motivations for pursuing his career as a sea captain
• Identify textual details that indicate the closeness of Stefano to the colomber
• Determine what the phrase “temptation of the abyss” emphasizes about the protagonist’s characterization
• Identify and explain an example of situational irony in the story
• Explore the symbolism associated with the colomber
• Write clearly, concisely, and accurately in response to analytical questioning
• Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims