For many high school readers, supernatural fiction and fantasy are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Tree” by H.P. Lovecraft features plot elements consistent with the aforementioned genres: allusions to Greek mythology, inexplicable vanishings, the personification of inanimate objects, and more. This multiple choice quiz covering “The Tree” helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The role of the beekeeper The protagonists’ jobs The nature of the relationship between the protagonists The artistic inspirations of each individual protagonist The Tyrant of Syracuse’s motivations The goddess whom the Tyrant wishes to honor Kalos’ reaction to his grave illness The request Kalos makes of his friend upon his death The promise Musides makes to Kalos prior to his death The length of time it takes Musides to complete his assigned task Peculiar characteristics of the tree The fate of Musides and his work

For many high school readers, supernatural fiction and fantasy are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “Polaris” by H.P. Lovecraft features plot elements consistent with the aforementioned genres: a narrator of questionable sanity, a dreamscape setting, the conflict between imagination and reality, and more. This multiple choice quiz covering “Polaris” helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The narrator’s home Medical conditions from which the protagonist suffers Setting The role of the Inutos The strange qualities of the protagonist’s dreams The narrator’s strengths and weaknesses in the context of the war The job assigned to the protagonist The narrator’s observations of Polaris How the narrator fails his people The resolution

For many high school readers, supernatural fiction and fantasy are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Doom that Came to Sarnath” by H.P. Lovecraft features plot elements consistent with the aforementioned genres: the plundering of a race of lizard people, shadows that seemingly originate from the moon, the vanishing of an entire city, and more. This multiple choice quiz covering “The Doom that Came to Sarnath” (estimated Lexile Measure of 1300-1400) helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The name Sarnath used to be known by A physical description of the beings who once inhabited the area The name of the beings’ leader The object worshiped by the beings The value humans saw in this region The fate of the strange beings and the object they worshiped The function of the amphitheater The celebration humans held in commemoration of genocide A strange event that takes place annually The amount of time that has passed since the killing of the beings The fate of the kings and their noblemen The resolution

For many high school readers, psychological fiction and horror are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Premature Burial” by Edgar Allan Poe features elements consistent with both genres: a stream-of-consciousness technique, the intensification of an irrational fear, tales of being buried alive, and more. This multiple choice quiz covering “The Premature Burial” helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The exposition The identities of those mentioned who suffered premature burials The intentions of Julien Bossuet The narrator’s beliefs concerning premature burials The narrator’s medical condition Precautions taken by the narrator to avoid death by premature burial Where the narrator seeks shelter during a storm How a premature burial scare affects the narrator’s life moving forward The narrator’s evaluation of human imagination

For many high school readers, horror and supernatural fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe features elements consistent with both genres: a Gothic mansion, psychological deterioration, heightened emotions, grim imagery, and more. This multiple choice quiz covering “The Fall of the House of Usher” helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Questions pertain to the following key details: How the narrator comes upon the House of Usher The narrator’s descriptions of the House of Usher What the narrator means when he refers to “shadowy fancies” A characterization of the relationship between the narrator and Roderick The content of the letter Roderick wrote the narrator What the narrator means when he refers to Roderick’s “reserve [which] had always been excessive and habitual. The Ushers’ ancestry A description of the narrator as he first explores the House of Usher Roderick’s ill appearance Madeline’s relationship to Roderick Madeline’s unusual medical condition Roderick’s ability to play the guitar Why Roderick wants to keep Madeline’s corpse in the house A realization that Roderick and Madeline were twins A strange sight through the window Peculiar noises Roderick’s terrible fear regarding Madeline Roderick’s death The narrative’s resolution

For many high school readers, horror and supernatural fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe features elements consistent with both genres: a Gothic mansion, psychological deterioration, heightened emotions, grim imagery, and more. 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. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are 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 Explore dominant character traits and motivations Examine how complex characters think, behave, and interact Determine the greater significance of a given detail Apply knowledge of various sound and literary devices including alliteration, personification, euphemism, foreshadowing, situational irony, hyperbole, epiphany, juxtaposition, and more Articulate the intended effects of various sound devices, literary devices, and figurative expressions Analyze Poe’s use of descriptive language to infer the author’s intent Conduct brief research on Swiss painter Henry Fuseli to develop greater understanding of Poe’s allusion to him Explore the connection between the plot of the short story and the content of the poem titled “The Haunted Palace” Examine how the author successfully intensifies suspense in the context of a passage Analyze the connotative significance of the narrator’s labeling Roderick a hypochondriac Identify details that contribute to a dreamlike or nightmarish atmosphere Discern the functions of particular details Make logical inferences about the resolution Defend claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

For many high school readers, horror and psychological fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Sphinx” by Edgar Allan Poe features plot elements consistent with both genres: a cholera epidemic, social isolation, omens, fear of death, and more. This multiple choice quiz covering “The Sphinx” helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The nature of the epidemic The location of the epidemic The narrator’s current location The length of time the narrator is away from home The relationship of the narrator to his roommate General character descriptions The narrator’s beliefs concerning omens The narrator’s obsessive tendencies The narrator’s frightening observation The reason the narrator was mistaken in his observation The roommate’s evaluation of the narrator in the resolution

For many high school readers, realistic fiction is a genre that maximizes relatability and engagement with literature. “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker is a story about self-image, generational clashes, cultural conflicts, and more. 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 Analyze the narrator’s sense of self-image Explore the author’s use of language to convey a sense of realism Apply knowledge of various literary devices including but not limited to dialect, syncope, and malapropism Contrast how two characters perceive the concept of heritage Analyze why the narrator takes offense to another character’s actions and evaluate whether her reaction is justified Examine how point of view shapes the readers’ understanding of Dee’s character Apply objectivity in order to infer a character’s true motivations Articulate the greater significance of a given detail (Maggie’s smile) Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

For many high school readers, realistic and young adult fiction are genres that maximize relatability and engagement with literature. “Geraldine Moore the Poet” by Toni Cade Bambara is a short story focusing on a girl with unfavorable life circumstances who is on the verge of an important self-discovery: that she has a natural talent for expressing herself poetically. 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 Explore how complex characters think, behave, and interact with others Apply knowledge of various literary devices including foreshadowing, idiom, and ambiguity Articulate the function of a given detail Make logical inferences about the author’s intent Demonstrate awareness of the narrative’s inciting incident Articulate the symbolism associated with Geraldine’s being offered tomato soup Choose an opinion with which Geraldine is most likely to agree Evaluate the qualities that make Geraldine’s poem “the most poetic thing” Argue whether Geraldine or Mrs. Scott experiences the greatest epiphany Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

For many high school readers, realistic, historical, and young adult fiction are genres that maximize relatability and engagement with literature. “Blues Ain’t No Mockin Bird” by Toni Cade Bambara is a short story focusing on a Black family whose ways of life are being infringed upon by opportunistic, politically motivated filmmakers. 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 Explore how complex characters think, behave, and interact with others Infer character motivations Articulate the function of a specific character (Cathy) Make logical inferences about the author’s intent Apply knowledge of various literary devices including metaphor, idiom, and onomatopoeia Isolate an example of figurative language from among several options Choose an opinion with which Granny would most likely agree based on an anecdote she shares with her family Determine which character or characters are represented in the character of Goldilocks Identify several ways in which the filmmakers dehumanize Granny and members of her family Draw parallels between the American folk hero John Henry and the character of Granddaddy Cain Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

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

Fairy tales are not just for elementary readers; even middle and high school students may find fairy tales highly engaging. “The Girl Without Hands” by the Brothers Grimm, also known as “The Maiden Without Hands” and “The Armless Maiden,” is a short story about the plight of a maiden whose poor father makes a bargain that results in her disfigurement and confinement. English Language Arts teachers may assign the Grimms’ tale and administer this editable assessment to evaluate reading comprehension. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The miller’s understanding of his deal with a stranger The stranger’s underhandedness The true identity of the stranger The maiden’s attempts at saving herself The means by which the maiden loses her hands The assistance of a guardian fairy The nature of the relationship between the king and the maiden The king’s gift to the maiden The trickery of the wizard and its effect on the king’s relationship with the maiden The message displayed on the cottage The reason the maiden’s hands grow back The length of time the king travels in search of the maiden The nickname of the maiden’s son The son’s initial reaction to learning the identity of his father The resolution