This Macbeth, Act I worksheet requires students to identify the details that align with the good, evil, and ambiguous sides of Macbeth's character. They are also required to explain who/what they believe influences Macbeth's behavior the most. This activity helps students track the development of Macbeth's character and engage in the thematic debate of fate vs. free will. An answer key is included! This product is also part of the discounted BritLitWit Macbeth Unit Bundle! Related blog posts: Have fun with the mysteries of Macbeth Refresh Macbeth: Get students to make staging choices How to build a Macbeth prop box Other resources you may find helpful: Macbeth Act III Worksheet: The Third Murderer Mystery Canterbury Tales Prologue Assignment: Analyzing Irony The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Analysis Worksheets Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
6 tips for making it enjoyable
It took me many years to feel comfortable with my approach to the Canterbury Tales Prologue. It was one of those texts that I appreciated because of the artful humor in the spot-on observations of humanity, but students didn’t seem to connect with it, despite the (misguided) efforts I made with my fellow 12th grade teachers to draw parallels to modern American society. Truthfully though, we dissected the text in ways that were tedious and didn’t do much in the way of building students’ skills for analyzing literature. I was never quite satisfied with my approach until I set time aside to explore what could be the most valuable skills and concepts students could learn from
James Joyce's short story "Araby" from Dubliners is brief but jam-packed with significance. It can pass students by if they don't have the skills they need to analyze it, though! These resources help students examine "Araby" so that they better understand and appreciate the story, but also build literary analysis skills that will help them tackle any other short stories or novels. Studying "Araby" with the help of these worksheets is a great way to prepare students for writing literary analysis papers about other texts! The seven worksheets in this resource guide students to: Comprehend the plot (7 questions that check reading comprehension) Analyze the structure (5 prompts about how the story aligns with the characteristics of a chivalric romance) Analyze the characters (7 questions that examine and compare the characters) Analyze the setting (4 questions that probe the influence of the setting on the protagonist) Analyze the motifs (Covers 5 motifs) Analyze the themes (Students reach their own conclusions by identifying 3–5 themes along with representative quotations.) Engage in extended thinking about the story's impact and how it compares to modern coming-of-age stories (4 questions) Use all 7 worksheets for a mini-unit on "Araby" that can function as a bit of a literary analysis bootcamp, or just pick and choose the worksheets you have time for! These worksheets adapt well to being jigsawed across the class as well as answering some questions in class and some for homework. You'll be all set with my detailed teacher's guide included in the resource. Students love Modernist short stories! Try my resources for the following short stories to further develop students' literary analysis skills and introduce engaging content: "A Cup of Tea" (Katherine Mansfield) "The Demon Lover" (Elizabeth Bowen) Related blog posts: When student motivation is low, teach Modernist short stories Modernist short stories provide a literary analysis bootcamp Other resources you may find helpful: Character Analysis Worksheets Literary Symbol Handout & Analysis Worksheet Hamlet Activity: "To be or not to be" Modern Language & Analysis World War I Poetry: Analysis Questions & Poem Packet Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
What to avoid and what to do instead
Even if they don't like to read
When you’re a literature teacher, you have to be a little bit of a history teacher too. Students usually feel more grounded in the story when they have a sense of the historical context. But if you go about it by handing out an intro from a Norton anthology or showing a clip from one of those public television documentaries that is so informative but so,
These rigorous Frankenstein quizzes will motivate your students to complete their reading and come to class prepared! This resource includes 8 multiple-choice reading check quizzes on the following Frankenstein chapter chunks: Letters 1–4 (8 questions) Chapters 1–3 (13 questions) Chapters 4–6 (10 questions) Chapters 7–10 (9 questions) Chapters 11–14 (12 questions) Chapters 15–16 (13 questions) Chapters 17–21 (11 questions) Chapters 22–24 (11 questions) The chapter chunks are manageable for students to complete for homework over 1–2 days and provide enough content for class discussion each day. Answer keys are included! Note: These quizzes follow the 1831 edition of Frankenstein. These quizzes are also included my discounted Frankenstein Bundle, which includes intro slides, a comprehensive study packet, plenty of writing opportunities, and a fun final project! Save lots of time and money with the bundle! Related blog post: Teaching Frankenstein: How to do deal with four big challenges Other resources you may find helpful: Romanticism Anticipation Guide The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Bundle Macbeth Quiz Bundle British Literature Mega Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
Modernist short stories provide great literary analysis opportunities for high school students at all levels. The stories are short, but packed with detail that makes for rich class discussions and writing! This bundle offers a discount on resources for three great Modernist stories: "Araby" by James Joyce, "A Cup of Tea" by Katherine Mansfield, and "The Demon Lover" by Elizabeth Bowen. You can teach these stories as a unit or individually at different times in the year. They can launch a literary analysis bootcamp (or refresher), help you out when you have an irregular schedule, or serve as interludes between larger units of study. The seven worksheets in the resources for "Araby" by James Joyce guide students to: Comprehend the plot (7 questions that check reading comprehension) Analyze the structure (5 prompts about how the story aligns with the characteristics of a chivalric romance) Analyze the characters (7 questions that examine and compare the characters) Analyze the setting (4 questions that probe the influence of the setting on the protagonist) Analyze the motifs (Covers 5 motifs) Analyze the themes (Students reach their own conclusions by identifying 3–5 themes along with representative quotations.) Engage in extended thinking about the story's impact and how it compares to modern coming-of-age stories (4 questions) The resources for "A Cup of Tea" by Katherine Mansfield guide students to: Analyze how the story avoids contrived plot conventions. Infer the reasons for the characters' thoughts and behavior based on the details we learn about their backgrounds and the context of the setting. Analyze three themes and how one motif works to strengthen them. Answer extended thinking questions about the name choices for the characters and how the story aligns with and subverts fairy tale conventions. The resources for "The Demon Lover" by Elizabeth Bowen include: Background information about Elizabeth Bowen, The Blitz during World War II, and the literary influences that shape the story. 6 questions to check reading comprehension Prompts for analyzing how the story features 7 characteristics common to gothic fiction and explaining how Bowen used them to highlight the issues of her day 4 extended thinking questions about the story's big ideas 6 questions to guide students through a feminist criticism of the text Instructions for developing a found poem from the text (includes prewriting exercise and rubric) Related blog posts: When student motivation is low, teach Modernist short stories Modernist short stories provide a literary analysis bootcamp Other resources you may find helpful: Character Analysis Worksheets Literary Symbol Handout & Analysis Worksheet World War I Poetry Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook Cover image is from Wikimedia Commons and is in the public domain.
These reading questions for The Importance of Being Earnest help students keep track of the play's complex plot details! The 39 questions cover Acts I–III. An answer key is included. This resource is also included the discounted BritLitWit The Importance of Being Earnest Unit Bundle! Related blog posts: The challenges of teaching Earnest and how to overcome them Try a humor unit (especially at the end of the school year!) Other resources you may find helpful: Canterbury Tales Prologue Reading Questions Macbeth Reading Questions Beowulf Reading Questions Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
Four resources that amp up the intrigue
Reinforce why Hamlet matters through this wrap-up writing assignment! Students respond to an excerpt from a critical essay about what makes Hamlet a classic by identifying examples that highlight how the play works as a crowd-pleaser and also provides an intellectual workout. Two versions of a detailed rubric are included—one with point values and one without. The template guides students to: Do a prewriting exercise Identify and explain examples of how Hamlet serves to entertain Identify and explain examples of how Hamlet provides an intellectually challenging experience Explain what we can take away from Shakespeare's approach as consumers and creators of media This assignment provides a great opportunity for students to analyze how Hamlet "works" to make an impact on audiences and connect with it in a way that will really stick with them. It's a challenging assignment, but it's manageable for Honors and AP students. It offers a more rigorous learning experience than a typical Shakespeare essay assignment that merely requires students to collect a handful of excerpts to fit a certain theme! But wait, there's more! This resource makes grading easier for you with a 10-page detailed teacher's guide that includes appropriate examples. Other resources you may find helpful: Beowulf Project: The Reality of Monsters Sherlock Holmes Project: Why is Sherlock Holmes still popular? Canterbury Tales Writing Assignment: Seating the Dinner Party Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
Psst, high school English teachers, I have a secret. There’s a great text that will allow you to continue the tradition of school-appropriate spookiness: “The Demon Lover” by Elizabeth Bowen. In their elementary and middle school days your students reveled in the jack-o’-lantern crafts and costume parades and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” so keep the eerie vibes going with this concise short story. It’s a nice surprise for teenagers who thought those days were over! (A textbook version of the story is available
This Hamlet, Act II quiz will challenge your students and reinforce their learning! The Act II quiz includes 25 multiple-choice questions that cover plot points, character development, and themes and motifs. Answer key included. Students need to reason their way through these questions to identify the speakers of selected quotations and themes and motifs that best align with others. There are no "gotcha" or impossible-to-remember trivia in these questions. Instead, these questions are appropriately rigorous for advanced students to think through. Set students up for success with the intro slides and reading questions in the BritLitWit Hamlet Unit Bundle! Related blog post: Who said that?! A tip for better literature quizzes Other resources you may find helpful: Canterbury Tales Prologue Test Macbeth Quiz Bundle Beowulf Quizzes Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
Beowulf should be an exciting read in English class (monsters! miracles! boasting in the mead-hall!), but as with any story you turn into a unit of study, there are a bunch of ways you can drive it right on into Blahtown. But you’ve got to get it right:
For the curious and on-the-fence teachers out there
Begin your study of World War I poetry with these introductory slides! These 17 slides include: A quick write to help students connect their prior knowledge to the topic Political context for why Britain got involved in World War I A collection of British military recruitment posters with discussion prompts to help students understand the social pressures put on young men to enlist Effects of World War I Biographical information about five poets representing different perspectives on the war: Rupert Brooke, Siegfried Sassoon, Wilfred Owen, Jessie Pope, and Helen Hamilton This resource is also part of the discounted BritLitWit World War I Poetry Bundle! The bundle includes questions for analyzing the poems by the authors mentioned in the slides and a culminating writing assignment. Relevant blog post: How to teach a successful World War I poetry unit Other resources you may find helpful: Beowulf Introductory Slides Canterbury Tales Introductory Slides Frankenstein Introductory Slides Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
At the end of your study of the Canterbury Tales Prologue, test your students on what really matters: interpreting the text to understand what makes it a timeless classic. This test on the Prologue includes 30 rigorous multiple-choice questions and an optional essay question. The questions require students to make interpretations about the overall purpose that the description of each pilgrim serves in terms of representing a timeless human characteristics or a common role or experience in the Middle Ages. Because this approach avoids quizzing students on minor details about the pilgrims and instead emphasizes reading comprehension skills, it can be used as an open-book test if you prefer. In addition to the answer key for the multiple-choice questions, a rubric for the essay question and suggested student responses are included to make grading easier! There's one version of the rubric with point values and one without. Students will get best prepared for this test if you use the resources in the money-saving BritLitWit Canterbury Tales Prologue Bundle, which includes: Introductory Slides Reading Questions Analyzing Irony Assignment Writing Assignment: Seating the Dinner Party Yearbook Superlatives Activity (Freebie!) Here are some other British Literature resources that can make your life easier! Macbeth Quiz Bundle Hamlet Quiz Bundle Beowulf Quizzes Related blog post: Try a humor unit (especially at the end of the school year!) Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
3 ideas for when there's no way you're starting a new unit
This Frankenstein worksheet is an engaging way to get students interested in the novel's exploration of the nature vs. nurture debate. It includes: A brief introduction to the “nature” and “nurture” views A table with prompts for students to identify their traits that they believe are genetic and the traits they believe have developed through their experiences 5 questions that guide students to examine how nature and nurture affect the creature in the novel and people in the real world This activity works best after students have read Chapters 11–14 of Frankenstein. It leads to an engaging discussion! The included teacher's guide offers suggested responses for relevant questions. This worksheet is also included in the discounted BritLitWit Frankenstein Unit Bundle! Related blog post: Teaching Frankenstein: How to do deal with four big challenges Other resources you may find helpful: Romanticism Anticipation Guide The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Bundle The Importance of Being Earnest Unit Bundle Macbeth Unit Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
The Sherlock Holmes stories are a breeze to teach with this cohesive unit! The BritLitWit Sherlock Holmes Unit Bundle includes introductory materials to orient students to the texts, resources for three stories, a final assignment (with three variations), and bonus materials for variety and fun! Here are the contents in more detail: Sherlock Holmes Introductory Slides: Includes a five-question anticipation guide that gets students thinking about the importance of observation and the popular appeal of detective stories, background about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's life and his inspiration for the character of Holmes, details about what Holmes was really like in the stories (his appearance, his knowledge base, and his methods for solving cases), and an explanation of why the setting of Victorian London was important to the development of the stories. Works with any Sherlock Holmes stories! Resources for "The Man with the Twisted Lip": Includes 10 reading questions with a space to record notable setting details, a deduction log worksheet a deduction log worksheet to track how Holmes arrives at the truth to solve the mystery, and an 8-question quiz on the story. (Answer keys included.) Resources for "The Adventure of the Dancing Men": Includes 15 reading questions, a deduction log worksheet to track how Holmes arrives at the truth to solve the mystery, and a 9-question multiple-choice quiz. (Answer keys included.) Resources for "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle": Includes 14 reading questions with a space to record notable setting details, a deduction log worksheet to track how Holmes arrives at the truth to solve the mystery, and a 7-question multiple-choice quiz. (Answer keys included.) Final Assignment: Why is Sherlock Holmes still popular?: This assignment works with any Sherlock Holmes stories! Three variations on this assignment are included in this resource, so you can choose one that best suits your students' grade level and abilities and the time you have available. Here's what's included: Listicle assignment: Students identify five reasons why they believe the Sherlock Holmes stories continue to inspire adaptations and present their reasons in a listicle format (within slides that include appropriate images/gifs to support their explanations). Includes an overview with instructions, graphic organizers for collecting examples in the stories and planning the slide presentation, and a detailed rubric (one with point values and one without). This variation can work as an individual or group assignment, and middle or high school students. It's a great way to get students accustomed to presenting to groups! Essay assignment: This variation also requires students to identify five reasons why they believe the Sherlock Holmes stories endure in popular media, but students present their reasons and explanations in a formal essay. Includes an overview with instructions, a log for collecting examples, and a detailed rubric (one with point values and one without). This variation would be an individual assignment, best suited for advanced middle school students or high school students across all levels. Wrap-up assignment (worksheet-style): This abbreviated variation is great if you're short on time. Students identify and use examples from the text to explain three reasons. Students could complete this individually or in groups. It's a good way for middle school students to get practice gathering evidence from the text and it's a good option for high school students who need more scaffolding. List of possible reasons (optional scaffolding): If you think students will need help generating reasons for any of the variations, give them the list of possible reasons, which supplies sample ideas related to character, plot, setting, and others. They can choose from those or just use it to get inspired! Examples to support reasons (teacher key): This 13-page appendix includes examples from the stories that align with each of the possible reasons in the included list. The examples are drawn from the stories used in the BritLitWit Sherlock Holmes bundle ("The Man with the Twisted Lip," "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle," and "The Adventure of the Dancing Men," and Ch. 1 of A Study in Scarlet), but they're just suggestions in case you need to give students pointers or get familiar with the stories yourself! This assignment works with any and all Sherlock Holmes stories. 6. Bonus files: Sample pacing guide Questions on Chapter 1 of A Study in Scarlet. This excerpt stands alone as a good introduction to the personalities and backgrounds of Holmes and Watson. Perfect way to get oriented to the unit! Detective story analysis: Use this sheet to analyze whether the Holmes stories (or any detective story!) meets the six criteria for an effective detective story. Includes lots of suggestions for ways to use it. Lateral thinking puzzles: A fun worksheet to use as a sponge activity or unit wrap-up! All of the Sherlock Holmes stories are in the public domain and are linked in the story questions in case you don't have a class set or need to get it to absent students! Related blog post: Don't make these mistakes with your Sherlock Holmes unit! Here are some other British Literature products that can make your life easier! British Literature Mega Bundle The Importance of Being Earnest Unit Bundle World War I Poetry Unit Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
It’s easy to keep students engaged with Macbeth. They love the supernatural elements, the discussion of fate vs. free will, and the fast-paced action. And because students are interested in it, it’s a good time to get them to do more rigorous writing assignments.
This Frankenstein worksheet is an engaging way to get students interested in the novel's exploration of the nature vs. nurture debate. It includes: A brief introduction to the “nature” and “nurture” views A table with prompts for students to identify their traits that they believe are genetic and the traits they believe have developed through their experiences 5 questions that guide students to examine how nature and nurture affect the creature in the novel and people in the real world This activity works best after students have read Chapters 11–14 of Frankenstein. It leads to an engaging discussion! The included teacher's guide offers suggested responses for relevant questions. This worksheet is also included in the discounted BritLitWit Frankenstein Unit Bundle! Related blog post: Teaching Frankenstein: How to do deal with four big challenges Other resources you may find helpful: Romanticism Anticipation Guide The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Bundle The Importance of Being Earnest Unit Bundle Macbeth Unit Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
The Sherlock Holmes stories are a breeze to teach with this cohesive unit! The BritLitWit Sherlock Holmes Unit Bundle includes introductory materials to orient students to the texts, resources for three stories, a final assignment (with three variations), and bonus materials for variety and fun! Here are the contents in more detail: Sherlock Holmes Introductory Slides: Includes a five-question anticipation guide that gets students thinking about the importance of observation and the popular appeal of detective stories, background about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's life and his inspiration for the character of Holmes, details about what Holmes was really like in the stories (his appearance, his knowledge base, and his methods for solving cases), and an explanation of why the setting of Victorian London was important to the development of the stories. Works with any Sherlock Holmes stories! Resources for "The Man with the Twisted Lip": Includes 10 reading questions with a space to record notable setting details, a deduction log worksheet a deduction log worksheet to track how Holmes arrives at the truth to solve the mystery, and an 8-question quiz on the story. (Answer keys included.) Resources for "The Adventure of the Dancing Men": Includes 15 reading questions, a deduction log worksheet to track how Holmes arrives at the truth to solve the mystery, and a 9-question multiple-choice quiz. (Answer keys included.) Resources for "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle": Includes 14 reading questions with a space to record notable setting details, a deduction log worksheet to track how Holmes arrives at the truth to solve the mystery, and a 7-question multiple-choice quiz. (Answer keys included.) Final Assignment: Why is Sherlock Holmes still popular?: This assignment works with any Sherlock Holmes stories! Three variations on this assignment are included in this resource, so you can choose one that best suits your students' grade level and abilities and the time you have available. Here's what's included: Listicle assignment: Students identify five reasons why they believe the Sherlock Holmes stories continue to inspire adaptations and present their reasons in a listicle format (within slides that include appropriate images/gifs to support their explanations). Includes an overview with instructions, graphic organizers for collecting examples in the stories and planning the slide presentation, and a detailed rubric (one with point values and one without). This variation can work as an individual or group assignment, and middle or high school students. It's a great way to get students accustomed to presenting to groups! Essay assignment: This variation also requires students to identify five reasons why they believe the Sherlock Holmes stories endure in popular media, but students present their reasons and explanations in a formal essay. Includes an overview with instructions, a log for collecting examples, and a detailed rubric (one with point values and one without). This variation would be an individual assignment, best suited for advanced middle school students or high school students across all levels. Wrap-up assignment (worksheet-style): This abbreviated variation is great if you're short on time. Students identify and use examples from the text to explain three reasons. Students could complete this individually or in groups. It's a good way for middle school students to get practice gathering evidence from the text and it's a good option for high school students who need more scaffolding. List of possible reasons (optional scaffolding): If you think students will need help generating reasons for any of the variations, give them the list of possible reasons, which supplies sample ideas related to character, plot, setting, and others. They can choose from those or just use it to get inspired! Examples to support reasons (teacher key): This 13-page appendix includes examples from the stories that align with each of the possible reasons in the included list. The examples are drawn from the stories used in the BritLitWit Sherlock Holmes bundle ("The Man with the Twisted Lip," "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle," and "The Adventure of the Dancing Men," and Ch. 1 of A Study in Scarlet), but they're just suggestions in case you need to give students pointers or get familiar with the stories yourself! This assignment works with any and all Sherlock Holmes stories. 6. Bonus files: Sample pacing guide Questions on Chapter 1 of A Study in Scarlet. This excerpt stands alone as a good introduction to the personalities and backgrounds of Holmes and Watson. Perfect way to get oriented to the unit! Detective story analysis: Use this sheet to analyze whether the Holmes stories (or any detective story!) meets the six criteria for an effective detective story. Includes lots of suggestions for ways to use it. Lateral thinking puzzles: A fun worksheet to use as a sponge activity or unit wrap-up! All of the Sherlock Holmes stories are in the public domain and are linked in the story questions in case you don't have a class set or need to get it to absent students! Related blog post: Don't make these mistakes with your Sherlock Holmes unit! Here are some other British Literature products that can make your life easier! British Literature Mega Bundle The Importance of Being Earnest Unit Bundle World War I Poetry Unit Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
Start your Hamlet unit by getting students oriented to the basics before they read! This intro slide presentation for Hamlet covers: The historical context for Shakespeare's writing of the play Themes and motifs Overviews of the major characters Elements of a revenge tragedy Ideals of Renaissance humanism, which Hamlet attempts to meet throughout the play These slides are a to-the-point resource that will help you introduce your Hamlet unit and continue to serve as a useful reference while you read. Please note: These slides are in PDF to preserve formatting across all operating systems and platforms, but you can easily present them like a PowerPoint if you enter slideshow mode. Here's a tutorial if you need help finding the setting! Other resources you may find helpful: All BritLitWit Intro Slides for British literature texts Macbeth Intro Activity: Would You Rather...? Macbeth Act IV Activity: Directing Act IV, scene 1 Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
These resources for "The Pardoner's Tale" from Canterbury Tales will help your students recognize the irony that characterizes the story and also extend their learning with a creative writing assignment. What's included: A sheet with 12 plot-based questions and a section to identify the examples of verbal, situational, and dramatic irony An 8-question multiple-choice quiz An optional creative writing assignment that requires students to write a short modern-day exemplum based on a proverb in paragraph form, a skit, or a storyboard (instructions, rubric, 18 proverbs, and a simple storyboard included) Answer keys included for questions and quiz! Related blog posts: What students can learn from the Canterbury Tales stories Try a humor unit (especially at the end of the school year!) Be sure to check out my other Canterbury Tales resources! "The Miller's Tale" Resources "The Wife of Bath's Tale" Resources Canterbury Tales Prologue Bundle Other resources you may find helpful: British Literature Mega-Bundle Macbeth Unit Bundle The Importance of Being Earnest Unit Bundle
Analyzing symbols in literature can be a great way to draw in reluctant readers and increase all students' engagement—if they have the tools to do it! This resource builds students' skills in recognizing and analyzing symbols in poems, novels, and plays, which will make them more confident and capable at literary analysis altogether. It emphasizes the importance of making personal connections to symbols, so it can even be used in conjunction with online study aids! The resource includes: Handout of background information: Defines and explains conventional and literary symbols, provides examples, and explains how deciphering symbols requires a blend of noting contextual details and making personal connections. Based on authoritative sources! Symbol analysis worksheet: This worksheet can be used with symbols from any poem, novel, or play. It includes a five-step process that gets students to jot down personal and cultural connections to the symbol, identify their initial thoughts about what the symbol might be guiding us to notice and believe, identify diction in the text that supports their initial thoughts, evaluate the symbol's impact, and write a final statement explaining the symbol's purpose. Completed examples of the worksheet: Includes full examples of the worksheet for William Blake's "The Lamb" and "The Tyger," along with a handout of the poems. These poems can be quick and straightforward way to introduce how you'll be using the worksheet with various texts throughout the year! Tips for the teacher: Lists ideas for using the worksheet across student groups, extending it into use with films or consumer psychology lessons, using it conjunction with online study aids, and more. This symbol analysis resource is great to have in your back pocket! It can round out your student of a variety of texts, be used as a sponge activity with popular media when you have extra time, and it's a good discussion starter—and skill builder! Related blog posts: Reusable resources for high school-level fiction What to do in English class before winter break Other resources you may find helpful: British Literature Mega-Bundle Hamlet Unit Bundle Rime of the Ancient Mariner Bundle British Literature Freebies Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
This Beowulf resource requires students to find examples of seven epic conventions in the text and cite the page numbers. To reinforce the content further, they are also required to describe how a modern movie, show, or book also meets some of the epic conventions. Included in the product: Student version to be used with Beowulf Teacher key for Beowulf version Student version that can be used with any epic text This resource is also included in the discounted BritLitWit Beowulf Unit Bundle! Related blog post: How to keep the energy up during your Beowulf unit Other resources you may find helpful: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Unit Bundle Macbeth Act V Worksheet: Macbeth as Tragic Hero Literary Symbol Handout and Analysis Worksheet Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
This Beowulf resource requires students to find examples of seven epic conventions in the text and cite the page numbers. To reinforce the content further, they are also required to describe how a modern movie, show, or book also meets some of the epic conventions. Included in the product: Student version to be used with Beowulf Teacher key for Beowulf version Student version that can be used with any epic text This resource is also included in the discounted BritLitWit Beowulf Unit Bundle! Related blog post: How to keep the energy up during your Beowulf unit Other resources you may find helpful: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Unit Bundle Macbeth Act V Worksheet: Macbeth as Tragic Hero Literary Symbol Handout and Analysis Worksheet Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
These three multiple-choice Beowulf quizzes will hold students accountable for completing their reading! The quizzes are based on the Heaney translation and cover these sections: Pages 1-47 (Sections 1-3): The introduction to the Danes through Beowulf's boast (10 questions) Pages 47-113 (Sections 4-6): Beowulf's fight with Grendel through Beowulf's fight with Grendel's mother (12 questions) Pages 113-End (Sections 8-10): The story of Queen Modthryth through Beowulf's death (9 questions) Answer keys are included. Also included is a test version that groups all three quizzes into one. These Beowulf Reading Questions will help students prepare. Both resources are included in the discounted BritLitWit Beowulf Unit Bundle! Related blog post: How to keep the energy up during your Beowulf unit Other resources you may find helpful: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Quiz "The Wife of Bath's Tale" Questions & Quiz Hamlet Quiz Bundle Macbeth Quiz Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
This Hamlet writing assignment requires students to do an in-depth study of one scene from the play. It's a great way to for students to demonstrate the understandings they gained from your Hamlet unit! This resource is a rigorous writing assignment that requires students to explain the purpose of the scene and explain the characters' motivations, using textual evidence for support. They also explain how they would set the stage and design the characters' costumes to reinforce the purpose of the scene and further the character development. Additionally, students annotate the scene to provide direction for the actors. (Students can choose from a list of eight scenes hyperlinked in the resource.) Detailed instructions with an integrated rubric will keep students on track! A version of the rubric with point values and one without are included. This works as an individual or group assignment. You can let students choose their scenes or assign them yourself so there's more variety when they share with the class. Students learn so much from this assignment! Working with one scene is a manageable way to examine the wording and structural choices Shakespeare made, which students understand on a deeper level when they amplify those by making directorial decisions. This product is also included in the discounted BritLitWit Hamlet Unit Bundle. Other resources you may find helpful: Macbeth Wrap-Up Activity: The Unanswered Questions of Macbeth Macbeth Writing Assignment: In-depth Scene Study British Literature Mega Bundle The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
Kick off your Canterbury Tales study with these introductory slides! This 16-slide presentation covers: Chaucer's biography (including details about his travels as a diplomat and the language of his time, Middle English) and how it impacted Canterbury Tales Pilgrimage in England How Chaucer discovered the literary device of frame tale and used it in the text How changing social structures during the Middle Ages influenced the characters included How corruption within the church influenced the development of some of the characters Important points about the writing style (satire, verbal irony, and situational irony) These slides distill information from a variety of authoritative texts into an easy-to-use introduction that gives students the context they need to better understand the Canterbury Tales Prologue and individual tales. After you read the Prologue, use my free Canterbury Tales Yearbook Superlatives worksheet and Seating the Dinner Party Writing Assignment (two student faves)! Related blog post: Common approaches to the Canterbury Tales Prologue and how to improve upon them Teaching the Canterbury Tales stories too? You'll be set with my resources for three of the best-known tales: "The Pardoner's Tale" Resources "The Miller's Tale" Resources "The Wife of Bath's Tale" Resources Other resources you may find helpful: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Introductory Slides Hamlet Introductory Slides World War I Poetry Introductory Slides Related blog post Try a humor unit (especially at the end of the school year!) Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
This Macbeth writing assignment requires students to do an in-depth study of one scene from the play. Students can choose from a list of nine scenes which are hyperlinked in the resource. This rigorous writing assignment guides students to explain the purpose of the scene and explain the characters' motivations, using textual evidence for support. They also explain how they would set the stage and design the characters' costumes to reinforce the purpose of the scene and further the character development. Additionally, students annotate the scene to provide direction for the actors. Detailed instructions with an integrated rubric will keep students on track! (A version of the rubric with point values and one without are included.) You can make this an individual or group assignment, and you can let students choose their scenes or assign them yourself! Students learn so much from this assignment! Working with one scene is a manageable way to examine the wording and structural choices Shakespeare made, which they understand on a deeper level when they amplify those by making directorial decisions. This product is also included in the discounted BritLitWit Macbeth Unit Bundle! Related blog posts: Have fun with the mysteries of Macbeth Refresh Macbeth: Get students to make staging choices How to build a Macbeth prop box Other resources you may find helpful: Hamlet Writing Assignment: In-depth Scene Study (freebie!) Canterbury Tales Writing Assignment: Seating the Dinner Party Beowulf Boast Poem Assignment Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
These Macbeth reading questions will save you lots of time, keep your students engaged, and prepare them for assessments! The reading questions cover all five acts with 91 questions about the plot, character development, themes, and motifs. A detailed teacher's guide is included. All acts and scenes are marked with brief setting descriptions too. These reading questions will prepare students for quizzes in the BritLitWit Macbeth Quiz Bundle. Both these reading questions and the quizzes are included in the discounted BritLitWit Macbeth Unit Bundle! Related blog posts: Have fun with the mysteries of Macbeth Refresh Macbeth: Get students to make staging choices How to build a Macbeth prop box Here are some other British Literature products that may make your life easier! Hamlet Questions for Reading & Analysis (110 pages!) Canterbury Tales Prologue Reading Questions Frankenstein Reading Questions Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
This writing assignment for World War I poetry requires students to write a detailed paragraph about the poem that commanded their attention the most, providing at least three reasons supported by specific examples from the text. This is a rigorous, yet concise writing assignment that helps students recognize powerful communication techniques that have the potential to shape public opinion during tumultuous times. The instructions and rubric provide guidance about appropriate topic and concluding sentences and suggestions for aspects of the poem students could analyze. (An example explanation is included.) Two versions of the rubric are included: one with point values and one without. This assignment was designed to accompany the collection of poems included in the BritLitWit World War I Poetry Bundle, but it can work with any selections of World War I poetry. Relevant blog post: How to teach a successful World War I poetry unit Other resources you may find helpful: Hamlet Writing Assignment: What makes Hamlet a classic? Canterbury Tales Prologue Writing Assignment: Seating the Dinner Party Beowulf Boast Poem Assignment Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
"Kubla Khan" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge can be confusing to students and difficult for teachers to explain what makes it significant, but these questions will bring your study of the poem under control (and make it fun)! This question packet includes: Background on the creation and publication of "Kubla Khan" Prompts to analyze how the poem could be a reflection on the wonders and struggles of the creative process Prompts to analyze the poetic devices that make the poem memorable A question in which students consider commentary about the poem's value from two critics and explain which one they agree with more A question that connects to another area of life: Students identify a popular song with lyrical content that's seemingly meaningless or difficult to comprehend and explain how other qualities draw people to it in an experience similar to that of reading "Kubla Khan." A copy of the poem A detailed teacher's guide is included! Other resources you may find helpful: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Bundle Frankenstein Unit Bundle "To Autumn" (John Keats) Analysis Questions (freebie!) British Literature Mega-Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
Talk about the issues that really matter to teenagers
It took me many years to feel comfortable with my approach to the Canterbury Tales Prologue. It was one of those texts that I appreciated because of the artful humor in the spot-on observations of humanity, but students didn’t seem to connect with it, despite the (misguided) efforts I made with my fellow 12th grade teachers to draw parallels to modern American society. Truthfully though, we dissected the text in ways that were tedious and didn’t do much in the way of building students’ skills for analyzing literature. I was never quite satisfied with my approach until I set time aside to explore what could be the most valuable skills and concepts students could learn from
This Beowulf anticipation guide provides statements that reflect the attitude of Anglo-Saxon people, including topics like loyalty, revenge, and honoring elders. Students check off the degree to which they agree with the statement, and then explain three of their points in further detail. It's been a great discussion starter that helps us with continually comparing our modern-day culture to the culture depicted in Beowulf! This resource is also included in the discounted BritLitWit Beowulf Unit Bundle! Related blog post: How to keep the energy up during your Beowulf unit Other resources you may find helpful: Macbeth Anticipation Guide Hamlet Anticipation Guide Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Intro Activity Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
In this activity for Macbeth, Act IV, students choose one of the supernatural entities from Act IV (e.g. Hecate, the armed head, etc.) and illustrate how it would be portrayed in a stage or film version of the play. In addition to providing a representative quotation of the entity, students must follow the prompts to write a detailed paragraph justifying their choices for how the entity is represented. Detailed directions are included! Shakespeare didn't leave notes about how he imagined his plays would be staged. Whether it’s a film or stage production of Macbeth, directors have many decisions to make about the setting, in addition to how characters should appear and behave. How the supernatural aspects of the Macbeth should be portrayed might be the most difficult problems for a director to solve. This activity has always been a student favorite. It provokes creativity without requiring artistic talent, and it makes it clear how a director can use staging to influence the audience's interpretations of Shakespeare's plays. And as a bonus you'll get some art for your classroom! This product is also included in the discounted BritLitWit Macbeth Unit Bundle! Other resources you may find helpful: Hamlet Wrap-Up Activity: The Unanswered Questions of Hamlet The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Review Worksheet Victorian Etiquette Quiz (for use with The Importance of Being Earnest) Related blog posts: Have fun with the mysteries of Macbeth Refresh Macbeth: Get students to make staging choices How to build a Macbeth prop box Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
This Macbeth creative writing wrap-up activity requires each student to respond to an unanswered question related to the play, including: What led the witches to disobey Hecate by giving Macbeth the prophecies in Act I? Why did Lady Macbeth say she knew what it was like to nurse a child? What did the witches do after Macbeth died? Fifteen sheets for the unanswered questions and a brief rubric are included. You can assign them in all sorts of ways: to individuals, to small groups, to partners who each respond to the same question and compare their writing, etc.! You can use these prompts in-class, for homework, and/or across multiple days. Each student has to write 1-2 paragraphs responding to scenario he/she was assigned, using imaginative details as well as evidence from the play. This activity is a lot fun when students debate the validity of one another's responses. It's a great way to reinforce the theme of fate vs. free will, examine characterization, and get students writing creative narratives! This product is also included in the discounted BritLitWit Macbeth Unit Bundle. Related blog posts: Have fun with the mysteries of Macbeth How to build a Macbeth prop box Refresh Macbeth: Get students to make staging choices Other resources you may find helpful: The Unanswered Questions of Hamlet Beowulf Project: The Reality of Monsters The Importance of Being Earnest Unit Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
Analyze "To Autumn" by John Keats with this simple guided approach. This worksheet includes three questions that will help students recognize three important aspects of the poem: Its numerous sensory details that create vivid scenes Its personification of autumn Its greater significance as a metaphor for the arc of life A copy of the poem and a teacher's guide is also included! Other resources you may find helpful: British Literature Mega-Bundle The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Bundle "Kubla Khan" Analysis Questions (freebie!) World War I Poetry Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
Frankenstein explores why humans do not accept the creature as another human. This assignment gives students an opportunity to engage in-depth with that question after they finish the novel. It works as a homework or in-class assignment—and it can also support a lengthy discussion! It's both rigorous and engaging, and students are pushed to do original thinking. The "What makes us human?" assignment requires students to: Do a freewrite about what they believe defines a human. Locate three online sources that engage with the question of what defines a human and record their findings. Consider their initial opinions along with their research, and identify what they see as five essential characteristics of being human. Make a final assessment about whether the creature can be considered a human. Two versions of the rubric are included: one with point values and one with blanks. This assignment is also included in the BritLitWit discounted Frankenstein Unit Bundle! Related blog post: Teaching Frankenstein: How to do deal with four big challenges Other resources you may find helpful: Romanticism Anticipation Guide The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Bundle Sherlock Holmes Unit Bundle "Araby" Literary Analysis Worksheets
Above all, the Sherlock Holmes stories are fun. When you read the detailed descriptions of Victorian London, you tune out your surroundings and get totally absorbed in the story. The plots are well-constructed; it’s psychologically rewarding to see how Holmes collects the clues and fits them together to solve a mystery. And if you’re teaching them in your English class, it’s nice that students already have some prior knowledge about the main characters and general premise! Overall, they’re easy reads, which probably means they’re providing a nice little respite from heavier material if you’re an English teacher.
This worksheet is a fun wrap-up for John Donne's poems. Students write three of their own metaphysical conceits (comparisons between two dissimilar things). The directions include a refresher on the definition of metaphysical conceits, along with one of John Donne's examples from "A Valediction Forbidding Mourning", modern examples, and some ideas for writing topics. Students will surprise you with their creativity! Other resources you may find helpful: British Literature Mega Bundle Hamlet Unit Bundle The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
This quiz on The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge includes 10 multiple-choice questions about the essentials of the plot and symbolism. Answer key included! This product is also included in the discounted BritLitWit bundle for The Rime of the Ancient Mariner! Check out this related blog post: Tips for teaching The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Other resources you may find helpful: Frankenstein Quiz Bundle Macbeth Quiz Bundle Hamlet Quiz Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook
