Shakespeare’s Sonnet 146 Close Reading Analysis Worksheet

Help high school students develop close reading and poetry analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 146. Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet eliminates assessment planning responsibilities without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.

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.

More specifically, students will do the following:

• Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
• Discern the intended effect of figurative language
• Explore the narrator’s mindset
• Discern the overall tone of the sonnet
• Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on metaphor, paradox, and personification