""The Fox and the Horse" by the Brothers Grimm Close Reading Analysis Worksheet

Help middle and high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering a classic Grimm’s fairy tale titled “The Fox and the Horse.” The briefness of the narrative makes it a helpful time-filler for awkward gaps in the teaching schedule, yet the rigor of the activity ensures that quality instruction and discussion continue. An answer key and copy of the short story are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:

• Read for literal comprehension
• Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques
• Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
• Evaluate the morality of characters in context
• Argue whether the horse could have benefited from giving greater consideration to the fox’s personal motivations
• Apply knowledge of various literary devices including anthropomorphism, hyperbole, situational irony, dramatic irony, and sibilance
• Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
• Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
• Come to class better prepared to discuss literature