Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this rigorous close reading analysis worksheet covering the short story “The Interlopers” by Saki. A detailed answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. 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. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Explore how point of view shapes the readers’ understanding of the story Articulate the intended effects of the author’s diction (“pestilential wind,” “snarled,” etc.) Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of various literary devices including metaphor, oxymoron, personification, onomatopoeia, foreshadowing, symbolism, and situational irony Determine the function of a given passage Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary analysis skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Tell-Tale Heart.” An answer key and copy of the narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Utilize dictionaries to ensure knowledge of word meanings Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Discern the function of a given excerpt Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Compare and contrast characters Analyze a detail for symbolism and make logical inferences about the narrator’s subconscious motivations based on this analysis Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor and situational irony 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

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 Grimm’s fairy tale titled “The Sparrow and His Four Children.” Themes addressed include benefits of exploring the world and the virtues of piety and kindness. An answer key and copy of the short story are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, onomatopoeia, and situational irony Consider themes in context Conduct brief research on relevant topics 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

Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary analysis skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering Edgar Allan Poe’s supernatural short story “The Fall of the House of Usher.” An answer key and copy of the narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Utilize dictionaries to ensure knowledge of word meanings Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Discern the functions of given excerpts Explore the connection between the plot of the short story and the content of the poem titled “The Haunted Palace” Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of various sound and literary devices including alliteration, personification, euphemism, foreshadowing, situational irony, hyperbole, epiphany, juxtaposition, and more Conduct brief research on Swiss painter Henry Fuseli to develop greater understanding of Poe’s allusion to him 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

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 Grimm’s fairy tale titled “The Three Languages.” Themes addressed include the importance of respecting one’s talents and the power of communication. An answer key and copy of the short story are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques Determine the function of a given passage Discern tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on foreshadowing, invective, situational irony, and more Consider themes in context 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

Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and sharpen their critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “From Beyond,” a piece featuring numerous compelling elements for high school students: alien life, advanced technology, parallel realities, and more. An answer key and copy of the narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques Determine the function of a given passage Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, situational irony, and more Consider themes in context 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

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 Girl Without Hands,” also known as “The Maiden Without Hands” and “The Armless Maiden.” Themes addressed include the power of faith and the resilience of the human spirit. An answer key and copy of the short story are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques Discern tone in context Determine the purpose of a given passage Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including dramatic irony, euphemism, foreshadowing, invective, metaphor, simile, situational irony, symbolism, and more Consider themes in context 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

Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Edgar Allan Poe’s allegory “The Island of the Fay.” This piece is a surprising departure from the grotesque and instead focuses more on philosophy and spirituality. An answer key and copy of the text are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Compare and contrast two regions of the island Explore how a complex narrator thinks, behaves, and develops Make logical inferences about the author’s mindset in the context of his allegory Apply knowledge of literary devices including oxymoron, metaphor, symbolism, and personification Write about literature with clarity, precision, and accuracy Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and sharpen their critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet on H.P. Lovecraft’s narrative “Hypnos,” a short story in the horror genre about a man’s fear of falling asleep. An answer key and copy of the text are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques Determine the main idea of a given paragraph Discern tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, situational irony, and more 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

Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering the short story “He” by H.P. Lovecraft. The complexity of the narrative makes it most suitable for upper grade levels and advanced literature classes. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Utilize dictionaries to ensure knowledge of word meanings Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing and situational irony Write about literature with clarity, precision, and accuracy Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and sharpen their critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “Beyond the Wall of Sleep,” a piece featuring numerous compelling elements for high school students: dreamy aberrations, astral projection, bodily possession, and more. An answer key and copy of the narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques Determine the function of a given passage Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony 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

Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and dramatic craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 4, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s comedy Love’s Labour’s Lost. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Determine the function of a given excerpt Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Argue how Rosaline’s dialogue and actions defy standard conventions of femininity Apply knowledge of literary devices including epiphora, metaphor, verbal irony, and more Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works

Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and dramatic craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 1, scene 2, of William Shakespeare’s comedy Love’s Labour’s Lost. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, oxymoron, situational irony Conduct brief research on the topic of Humorism Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works

Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and dramatic craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 2, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s comedy Love’s Labour’s Lost. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Determine the function of a given passage Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, simile, and hyperbole Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works

Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and dramatic craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 3, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s comedy Love’s Labour’s Lost. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works

Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and dramatic craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 1, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s comedy Love’s Labour’s Lost. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Describe tone in context Determine the functions of given excerpts Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including anaphora and simile Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works