"The Good Deed" by Pearl S. Buck Close Reading Analysis Worksheet

For many high school readers, realistic and multicultural fiction are genres that maximize relatability and engagement with literature. “The Good Deed” by Pearl S. Buck is a realistic short story that exposes high school readers to different cultural perspectives on marriage and family dynamics. With this challenging worksheet composed of high-order questions, English teachers will help students extend beyond basic reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and save valuable time at home without sacrificing quality and rigor in the classroom. A detailed answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:

• Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
• Apply knowledge of various literary devices including situational irony, dramatic irony, aposiopesis, antonomasia, and more
• Analyze how complex characters think, behave, and interact
• Make logical inferences based on characterization details provided by the author
• Articulate the symbolic value of a particular object
• Evaluate whether young Mr. Pan exhibits rational or irrational behaviors when handling emotionally intense situations
• Identify examples of old Mrs. Pan’s culture shock
• Choose the best synonym to replace a word as it is used in the story
• Analyze nuances in words with similar meanings
• Explore the intended effect of the author’s phrasing
• Articulate Lili’s internal conflict
• Discern the greater significance of a seemingly insignificant detail
• Choose a statement with which a character is most likely to agree
• Isolate details that suggest a favorable outcome
• Examine old Mrs. Pan’s transformation into a dynamic character
• Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence
• Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision