This resource extends beyond text comprehension, helping high school students analyze the formal elements of fiction and respond thoughtfully in writing to questions about literature. The featured short story is titled “The Seven Ravens” by the Brothers Grimm. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly Explore character development and motivations Analyze unique and unfamiliar phrasing to find meaning Write clearly, concisely, and accurately in response to analytical questioning Argue whether the authors intend for the father to be seen as a villain Identify an example of foreshadowing and explain what it suggests about plot development Explore the symbolism of ravens and consider why the father specifically chose for his sons to be transformed into ravens Explore the symbolism of rings and consider the role they play in terms of plot development Explore the symbolism of stars and consider the role they play in terms of plot development Cite textual evidence in support of claims

Engage a variety of middle and high school students with the incorporation of Grimm’s fairy tales into the classroom. “The Elves and the Shoemaker” by the Brothers Grimm is a short story about the positive effects of performing good deeds for others. With this set of high-order questions, teachers will be able to extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills. While the close reading activity upholds academic rigor, the brevity of the narrative helps teachers fill awkward gaps in their teaching schedules. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing editable Word Documents and printable PDFs. By completing this activity, students will perform the following tasks: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony, dramatic irony, foreshadowing, simile, hyperbole, allusion, and symbolism Explore theme Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary material Defend claims and ideas with valid reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of comprehension and analysis questions on “The Four Clever Brothers,” a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. The narrative has an estimated Lexile measure of 1000-1100, making it a suitable piece for secondary students. An answer key and copy of the text are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students, ultimately, will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. Questions pertain to the following: Exploring character motivations, whether explicitly stated in the text or implied through character actions, and articulating responses clearly Exploring the author’s craft, exploring unique and unfamiliar phrasing to make sense of meaning Responding clearly, concisely, and accurately to literal comprehension-based questioning Analyzing textual details to draw inferences and support rational arguments Applying knowledge of literary devices to the text, articulating how they are applied while citing textual evidence in support of claims (emphasis on symbolism and situational irony)

Help high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and stamina with this rigorous set of close reading analysis questions on a short story titled “Cool Air” by H.P. Lovecraft. With an estimated Lexile Measure of 1200-1300, the narrative and its corresponding activity are suitable additions to high school fiction units, especially at the 11th and 12th grade levels and during the Halloween season. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will: Articulate what the text states both explicitly and implicitly Explore character intentions and motivations Analyze how complex characters behave and interact Explore cause-and-effect relationships Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, situational irony, and dramatic irony Define complex words and phrases as they are used in context Identify relevant textual evidence in support of claims Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Gothic fiction and horror are genres that maximize many high school students’ engagement with literature. “In the Vault” by H.P. Lovecraft is one such short story. It features elements such as entrapment, mutilated corpses, and the avenging of wrongdoing—making the narrative a particularly chilling read during the Halloween season. This rigorous worksheet on “In the Vault” helps English teachers support the development of close reading analysis skills and save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. A detailed answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this activity, secondary students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Apply knowledge of various literary devices including foreshadowing, situational irony, allusion, and theme Analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about characterization/character motivations Define complex words as they are used in the text Identify relevant textual details in support of a claim Analyze the author’s craft to determine the his intent Discern the tone of a passage Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Measure reading comprehension and support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of analysis questions on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “Sweet Ermengarde,” also known as “The Heart of a Country Girl.” A variety of reading question types facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. With an estimated Lexile Measure of 1000-1100, this text and its corresponding guided reading worksheet are appropriate additions to any high school short story unit, especially at the 9th and 10th grade levels. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students, ultimately, will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. By completing this activity, students will demonstrate the following: An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about characterization/character motivations An ability to analyze the text for sexist tropes and articulate their claims rationally and convincingly An ability to analyze the significance of an object in the context of the plot An ability to find and articulate relevant details in the text An ability to apply knowledge of literary devices to the text with an emphasis on how the author employs internal conflict, situational irony, and dramatic irony An ability to analyze potential interpretations of the story’s title with an emphasis on its irony

For many high school students, supernatural fiction is a genre that maximizes engagement with literature. “The Moon Bog” by H.P. Lovecraft features strange beings, mind manipulations, and even implied social criticism of humanity’s greed and treatment of the environment. This rigorous worksheet on “The Moon Bog” helps English teachers support the development of close reading analysis skills and save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. A detailed answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will: Articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly Analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character mindsets and motivations Apply knowledge of various literary devices including foreshadowing, situational irony, and dramatic irony Define complex words as they are used in the text by taking into consideration denotative and connotative meanings Support responses with relevant textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze chapter 24 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An answer key is provided. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, these instructional materials save teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. Copyright restrictions prohibit the inclusion of the complete chapter, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with access to the novel. By engaging in this exercise, students will: Apply knowledge of literary devices (situational irony and simile) to the text Discern the meaning of complex vocabulary and phrases in context, taking into consideration both denotative definitions and connotative associations Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly Analyze Scout’s characterization to draw a logical inference in context Analyze a passage to discern its significance toward advancing the plot Isolate factual statements from false statements Analyze Grace Merriweather’s characterization to draw a logical inference in context Analyze a passage to discern its tone

Gothic fantasy and horror are genres that maximize many high school students’ engagement with literature. “The Cats of Ulthar” by H.P. Lovecraft is a macabre short story featuring savage neighbors, an avenging curse, and flesh-eating felines—making it an especially chilling choice for the Halloween season. This rigorous worksheet on “The Cats of Ulthar” helps English teachers support the development of close reading analysis skills and save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will: Discern a key purpose of the mythological allusions delivered in the exposition Draw parallels between the author’s choices and knowledge of cat-related proverbs Explore the antagonistic characterization of the community’s old couple Examine the narrator’s feelings toward the people of Ulthar Explore the greater significance of imagery from a mythological perspective Investigate the author’s decision to name a key character after an Egyptian figure Discern the functions of several paragraphs Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices including personification, irony, inversion, and onomatopoeia Make logical inferences about the author’s decision to include two seemingly insignificant details Identify and explain a significant example of foreshadowing in the story Argue whether the people of Ulthar are better or worse off for having gone through their experiences Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

For many high school readers, science fiction, supernatural fiction, and horror are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “From Beyond” by H.P. Lovecraft is a compelling short story that features elements consistent with those genres: advanced technology, parallel realities, alien life, and more. This rigorous worksheet covering “From Beyond” helps English teachers extend student learning beyond reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will: Analyze a passage in the text in order to discern its function. Define complex vocabulary in context Analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character motivations Analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character relationships Analyze the text for literary devices such as foreshadowing, situational irony, and theme Find and articulate relevant textual details in support of a claim Analyze context clues to discern and articulate the significance of a given detail Articulate what the text indicates both explicitly and implicitly Write with clarity and precision

Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this rigorous worksheet covering the short story “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” by Nathaniel Hawthorne (estimated Lexile Measure range of 1300-1400). Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. An answer key and copy of the public domain text are included. By completing this activity, high school students will do the following: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Compare and contrast characters Infer the intended effect of the author’s phrasing (“liquor of youth”) Apply knowledge of various literary devices including foreshadowing and symbolism Examine nuances in words with similar meanings Articulate the significance of a given detail Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary materials Support claims and ideas with relevant evidence and valid reasoning Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Fairy tales are not just for elementary students; even high school readers can use (and enjoy) fairy tales as a tool for practicing close reading analysis skills. This worksheet composed of rigorous questions covers “Rapunzel” by the Brothers Grimm. With an estimated Lexile Measure range of 1010-1200, the short story is suitable for both middle and high school students. The briefness of the narrative also makes it an appropriate time-filler for awkward gaps in teaching schedules. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will: Articulate what is stated in the text explicitly and implicitly Explore character motivations Analyze how complex characters think, behave, and interact with others Examine tone Analyze the authors’ craft, paying special attention to diction in order to make logical inferences Apply knowledge of various literary devices including simile, situational irony, and dramatic irony Analyze nuances in words with similar meanings Choose the most synonymous word to replace a word used in the text Write with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Support the development of close reading skills for middle and high school with this set of comprehension and analysis questions on “The Godfather,” a short story by the Brothers Grimm. The variety of question types will also help prepare students for standardized testing scenarios; emphasis is placed on how the Brothers Grimm use direct description to create a complex narrative with a surreal tone. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story (estimated Lexile measure of 700-800) are provided. This resource is most suitable for a short story unit at the middle school level, and it may also be useful for struggling readers in a high school setting. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students, ultimately, will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. Questions pertain to the following: Identifying what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly Demonstrating understanding of the narrative’s surreal tone, identifying several pieces of textual evidence that advances the tone Exploring character motivations, whether explicitly stated in the text or implied through character actions, and articulating responses clearly Analyzing character interactions to discern character intent Responding clearly, concisely, and accurately to analytical questioning Analyzing textual details to draw inferences and support rational arguments Applying knowledge of literary devices to the text, articulating how the title is ironic Exploring cause-and-effect relationships Writing with clarity and precision

This resource extends beyond text comprehension, helping high school students analyze the formal elements of fiction and respond thoughtfully in writing to questions about literature. The featured short story is titled “The Singing Bone” by the Brothers Grimm. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story, which has an estimated Lexile measure of 1100-1200, are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly Define complex words and phrases in context, with emphasis on archaic usage Analyze nuances in word meanings Choose the most appropriate synonym to replace a word Apply knowledge of literary devices to the text with emphasis on lesser known concepts: metonymy, epizeuxis, polysyndeton, and anastrophe Apply knowledge of more basic literary devices to the text: consonance, assonance, alliteration, personification, and situational irony Write clearly, concisely, and accurately in response to analytical questioning Cite textual evidence in support of claims

For many high school readers, age-appropriate fantasy and fairy tale fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. With this worksheet composed of rigorous questions on “Hansel and Gretel” by the Brothers Grimm, English teachers will help students extend beyond reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative (estimated Lexile Range 810-1000) 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 as well as implicitly Analyze dialogue to discern how a character uses manipulative tactics to achieve a goal Analyze characterization to discern and articulate a dominant internal conflict in the text Apply knowledge of alliteration to the text Analyze the authors’ word choices to discern and articulate how these choices create the literary device of paradox Identify several examples of simile in the text Apply knowledge of dramatic irony to the text, discerning and articulating how it manifests Apply knowledge of situational irony to the text, discerning and articulating how it manifests Apply knowledge of foreshadowing to the text, explaining what is foreshadowed and how Write with clarity and precision

Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Featuring a brief passage about the Parsons family from Book 1, chapter 2, this resource saves teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing academic rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable Word Documents and PDFs. This resource may facilitate small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students, ultimately, will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. By engaging with this resource, students will: Apply knowledge of literary devices and techniques including assonance and aposiopesis Analyze textual details to make logical inferences about character fears, behaviors, and motivations Analyze the emphasis on sports impedimenta and articulate how sporting events promote modes of thinking sanctioned by the Party Analyze how the description of setting contributes to the author’s warning on the effects of totalitarianism on the masses Define complex words and phrases in context Write with logic, clarity, and precision

This close reading assessment features 15 text-dependent, high-order questions to promote improved reading comprehension and analysis of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost (Act 1, scene 1). An answer key is included, as are Word Document and PDF versions of the assessment. This resource aligns well to Academic Literacy Project teaching principles and may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students, ultimately, will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. In addition to helping students gain deeper understanding of the material and greater confidence in their ability to read and comprehend complex texts, this resource was designed to prepare students for ACT-style questioning. By engaging in this exercise, students will: Discern and articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly Isolate a factual statement about the passage from false statements Examine cause-and-effect relationships Analyze Shakespearean language to discern and articulate meanings of words and phrases in context, taking into consideration denotative definitions and connotative associations Analyze Shakespearean language to discern and articulate tone in context Gain deeper insight into character modes of thinking by analyzing dialogue Analyze a portion of text to discern which literary device is applied in context (anaphora and simile) Demonstrate knowledge of Biron’s criticisms of those who are obsessive in their pursuit of knowledge Write with clarity, logic, and precision

Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Featuring a brief passage about the events preceding Hate Week from Book 2, chapter 5, this resource saves teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable Word Documents and PDFs. This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students, ultimately, will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. By engaging with this resource, students will: Identify what the text says both explicitly and implicitly Analyze dialogue to discern and articulate implied meaning Analyze the significance of weather conditions in terms of the Party’s goals for Hate Week Analyze textual details to infer the purpose(s) of atrocity pamphlets and the Hate Week theme song Analyze the author’s craft to discern which literary device is most applicable to a portion of text Define complex words and phrases in context Analyze figurative language (“happy as a lark”) to discern and articulate implied meaning as it relates to Parsons Write with clarity and precision