For many high school readers, horror and psychological fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Birds” by Daphne du Maurier features elements consistent with both genres: an isolated setting, killings without clear motivations, the suggestion of humanity’s imminent extinction, and more. With this challenging worksheet composed of high-order questions, English Language Arts 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
- Analyze the author’s choice of title in order to articulate its intended effect on readers
- Examine how elements of setting contribute to the development of suspense
- Explore how complex characters think, behave, and interact with others
- Determine the functions of characters
- Infer character motivations
- Make logical inferences about the author’s intent
- Apply knowledge of various literary devices including personification, amplification, onomatopoeia, simile, epiphany, foreshadowing, and more
- Conduct online research to answer a question about historical context
- Paraphrase the author’s words (“You had to endure something yourself before it touched you”)
- Examine what a given passage implies about humanity’s relationship with Nature
- Identify narrative techniques used in a given passage to convey an unsettling mood
- Articulate the irony associated with imagery in a given passage
- Explore relevant themes
- Discern the significance of the protagonist’s final actions
- Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence
- Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
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