Need a Macbeth intro activity? Kick off the unit with an anticipation guide that engages the whole class in a fun discussion! The slides for this pre-reading activity present eight questions in a "Would you rather...?" format that get students to think about the tough decisions that the characters in Macbeth have to make (for example, "Would you rather be fake sometimes so you could get ahead in your career, or always be honest, but appear less ambitious?") Students always have fun debating these types of questions, and it reminds them of the importance of weighing the pros and cons before making any big decisions. It's also a great way to preview the play's themes of guilt and ambition! Just a note: These slides are in PDF to preserve formatting across all operating systems, but you can easily present them like a PowerPoint when you "enter slideshow." Here's a quick tutorial! This resource 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: The Importance of Being Earnest Anticipation Guide Hamlet Anticipation Guide Beowulf Anticipation Guide 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

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

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

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

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.

This Macbeth, Act V worksheet requires students to explain how Macbeth meets the six characteristics of the classic tragic hero. Then, students identify a real life figure who also meets the characteristics. This is a great way to reinforce how Shakespeare developed complex characters who aren't all good or all bad. In other words, they're human! 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 Here are some other British Literature products that can make your life easier! Hamlet Writing Assignment: What makes Hamlet a classic? Hamlet Quiz Bundle Frankenstein Final Project: Enduring Issues Presentation

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 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

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 literary analysis worksheets for "The Demon Lover" by Elizabeth Bowen will help you go in-depth on this complex short story and keep your students engaged with its many thought-provoking ambiguities. The packet includes: 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) Completing all of these components will create an enriching, well-scaffolded opportunity for students to connect with "The Demon Lover" and prepare them for analyzing other short stories. However, if you don't have enough time or think a certain component would be too challenging for certain classes, you can skip it! "The Demon Lover" is a crowd-pleasing story and these resources will make an enjoyable study of it. If you don't already have a set place in your curriculum to teach "The Demon Lover," consider doing it around Halloween. It's a great way to still have fun with spooky stuff but in a challenging, age-appropriate way. Be sure to check out my other Modernist short story resources! "Araby" Literary Analysis Worksheets (James Joyce) "A Cup of Tea" Literary Analysis Worksheets (Katherine Mansfield) Related blog posts: High school English teachers can do spooky season too with this short story 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 World War I Poetry Unit Bundle Ballads of England and Scotland Resources Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook

This Macbeth quiz bundle provides multiple-choice quizzes for all five acts. Quizzes focus on plot details, character development, themes, motifs, and important quotations. For some questions, a quotation from the play is provided. Students need to reason their way through to identify the speaker of the quotation or identify the theme or motif with which it aligns. Keys are included! Act I quiz: 20 questions Act II quiz: 18 questions Act III quiz: 18 questions Act IV quiz: 15 questions Act V quiz: 16 questions 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 Macbeth Reading Questions in the BritLitWit Macbeth Bundle! Related blog posts: Who said that?! A tip for better literature quizzes 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 Quiz Bundle The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Quiz British Literature Mega Bundle Frankenstein Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook

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 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

These Beowulf introductory slides use authoritative sources to prepare your students to analyze the text. The slides include explanations of: The general plot The historical context about the cultures who contributed to the development of the story How the story developed in the oral tradition before it was written in Old English and eventually translated into Modern English The cultural values present in the story including comitatus, wyrd, flyting, boasting, and a sense of community Literary devices including alliteration, kenning, variation, digressions, and epic conventions You can project the slides for students to take notes or make copies so students can refer to them throughout your unit. The slides are in PDF so formatting is preserved (just go into slideshow or presentation mode to project them!). 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 Introductory Slides Canterbury Tales Introductory Slides Hamlet Introductory Slides Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook

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

For a challenging Beowulf assignment, have students write a boast poem similar to the one that Beowulf delivers before he fights Grendel! The information students are required to include will help them prepare for writing college admissions essays. This resource scaffolds the writing process so students are set up for success. The packet includes: A detailed rubric that outlines the requirements for alliteration, kennings, references to family/friends, and personal accomplishments and plans. (Includes one version based on 30 points and one version without point values.) A full example of a boast poem, which meets every aspect of the rubric. Students can annotate it to better understand how the required components are included. An optional template that will help students structure a rough draft. This assignment is always a hit because the students produce personal writing that highlights their positive attributes and accomplishments—and they achieve a style of creative writing that seems out of reach at first! This assignment also highlights the cultural values and literary devices that are central to 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: British Literature Mega Bundle Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Bundle Canterbury Tales Prologue Writing Assignment: Seating the Dinner Party Macbeth Unit Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook

This is the complete Macbeth bundle you've been looking for! The BritLitWit Macbeth Unit Bundle includes pre-reading activities, reading questions, quizzes and worksheets on all five acts, and multiple culminating projects. You'll be all set for an awesome unit. Check out the individual product listings for more details! BritLitWit Macbeth Unit Bundle Contents Intro Activity: Would You Rather...?: This pre-reading activity presents students with eight questions in a "Would you rather...?" format that get students to think about the tough decisions that the characters in Macbeth have to make (for example, "Would you rather be fake sometimes so you could get ahead in your career, or always be honest, but appear less ambitious?") Pre-Reading Opinionnaire: This intro activity gets students thinking about their own beliefs about superstitions, predicting the future, luck, and curses before they encounter these issues in the play. It's a fun way to spark conversation before they meet the witches in the play. Reading Questions: The reading questions covers all five acts with 91 questions about plot, theme, and character development. All acts and scenes are marked with brief setting descriptions. Answer key included. Act I Worksheet—The Different Sides of Macbeth: This worksheet requires students to identify the details in Act I that highlight the good, evil, and ambiguous sides of Macbeth's character. They are also required to identify and analyze 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. Answer key included. Act I Quiz: This quiz includes 20 multiple-choice questions based on plot, literary devices, character development, and quotation identification. This quiz and the quizzes on the subsequent acts are aligned with the reading questions. Answer key included. Act II Worksheet—Filming the Dagger Scene: Students analyze two depictions of the dagger scene and consider how they would direct it. Based on two brief film clips which are hyperlinked within the worksheet to YouTube videos). Act II Quiz: This quiz includes 18 multiple-choice questions based on plot, literary devices, character development, and quotation identification. Answer key included. Act III Worksheet—The Third Murderer Mystery: Students identify what would motivate each listed suspect to participate in the attack on Banquo and Fleance and also what could be his/her alibi or reasons for avoiding the situation. Then, they respond to three in-depth questions to analyze who they think is the likeliest suspect and the use of this plot device. A key with suggested answers is included. Act III Worksheet—The Themes and Motifs of Macbeth, Acts I-III: This worksheet provides a mid-play refresher of the major themes and motifs of the play. Students match the theme or motif to the quotation and then explain what it reveals about the character’s personality, thought process and/or motivation at that exact moment in the play. Answer key included. Act III Quiz: This quiz includes 18 multiple-choice questions based on plot, literary devices, character development, and quotation identification. Answer key included. Act IV Activity—Directing Scene 1: Students choose one of the supernatural entities from Act IV and illustrate how it would be portrayed in a film or movie 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 and a template for students to follow are included. Act IV Quiz: This quiz includes 15 questions (8 open-ended and 7 multiple-choice) based on plot, literary devices, character development, and quotation identification. Answer key included. Act V Worksheet—Macbeth’s Last Soliloquy: Students identify the metaphors that Macbeth uses to describe life, the main points of the soliloquy, and the feelings it evokes for them. They also write their own metaphor for life and explain how it compares to the imagery that Macbeth uses. Answer key included. Act V Worksheet—Macbeth as Tragic Hero: Students to explain how Macbeth meets the six characteristics of the classic tragic hero. Then, they identify a real life figure who also meets the characteristics of a tragic hero. Answer key included. Act V Quiz: This quiz includes 16 multiple-choice questions based on plot, literary devices, character development, and quotation identification. Answer key included. Final Project—In-Depth Scene Study: A rigorous writing assignment that requires students to explain the purpose of the scene they choose 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 included! Creative Writing Assignment—The Unanswered Questions of Macbeth: Each student is assigned one of 15 scenarios that relate to unanswered questions in the play. 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. A brief rubric is included. Why We Read Shakespeare Handout (freebie!) Bonus Files Pacing guide Intro Slides & Scene Summaries (included in bonus files): 47 slides including historical context, plot overview, literary terms, and a summary of each scene—especially helpful for orienting struggling readers. Character Overview Handout: This sheet lists and briefly explains the characters introduced during each act. Character Assignment Sheet: This sheet will help you assign students to roles for each act of the play. The Minute Macbeth: This creative writing assignment includes simple directions for students to work in groups to adapt the play to a new setting and condense into 25-30 lines. Students love this activity and it’s a fun, memorable way to wrap up the whole unit. Analyzing the Themes of Macbeth Worksheets: Six two-page worksheets, one for each major theme. On each sheet, students are prompted to identify what they believe is the most important quotation that relates to the assigned theme and explain its context and significance. Then, students write a wrap-up paragraph about the theme's impact. These sheets can be used lots of ways—suggestions are included! This bundle will save you so much time, and you'll have a well-organized, rigorous unit you can use for years to come! It offers lots of flexibility, and the variety of assignments keeps students engaged. Made by a British Literature teacher who lived and breathed Macbeth! 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 How to explain why we read Shakespeare Here are some other resources that you may find helpful! Hamlet's Soliloquy ("To Be or Not to Be") Analysis British Literature Mega Bundle Frankenstein Bundle

After reading Acts I-III of Macbeth, use this worksheet to give students a mid-play refresher of the major themes and motifs of the play! The worksheet includes six cited quotations from the play that align with these themes: Fate vs. Free Will Appearance vs. Reality Power Leading to Corruption Guilt Defining Masculinity How Superstition Affects Behavior And five cited quotations that align with these motifs: Supernatural Occurrences Blood Paradoxes Ill-Fitting Clothing Sleep Students have to match the theme or motif to the quotation and then explain what it reveals about the character’s personality, thoughts, and/or motivation. A key is included! 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: Literary Symbol Handout & Analysis Worksheet Beowulf Unit Bundle The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Bundle

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

This review worksheet for The Rime of the Ancient Mariner helps students better understand the cause and effect relationships in the poem by requiring them to correctly order "headlines" that paraphrase the plot details. It also includes three questions that require deeper thought about the poem's purposes and messages. An answer key is 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 Assignment: What makes us human? Macbeth Acts I-III Review Worksheet: Themes and Motifs Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Review: Sir Gawain's Report Card Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook

Start Macbeth with an engaging anticipation guide! This set of prompts gets students thinking about their own beliefs about superstitions, predicting the future, luck, and curses before they encounter these issues in the play. The prompts help students identify how they ascribe responsibility for what happens to them and observe if they have any conflicting beliefs. It's a fun way to spark discussion before they meet the witches in the play! This product is included in the discounted BritLitWit Macbeth Unit Bundle! Related blog post: Have fun with the mysteries of Macbeth Other products that may interest you: Macbeth Intro Activity: Would you rather...? Hamlet Anticipation Guide Beowulf Anticipation Guide Sir Gawain & the Green Knight Intro Activity: Do you have what it takes to be a knight? 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

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

This resource for The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge includes 30 short-answer reading questions along with a table that requires students to locate examples of how the poem aligns with the ideals of British Romanticism. An answer key is included! These reading questions will prepare students for this quiz. 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: Hamlet Questions for Reading and Analysis Canterbury Tales Prologue Reading Questions Beowulf Reading Questions 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

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde is a breeze to teach with this bundle! What’s included: Anticipation Guide (Pre-reading Opinionnaire): Students respond to seven provocative statements related to the themes of the play by checking off how much they agree with each statement and explaining their opinions. Victorian Etiquette Quiz: This just-for-fun quiz based on a real Victorian etiquette book introduces students to the absurdity of Victorian Era manners, and then prompts them to think about whether our own era has equally ridiculous expectations for behavior. A key is included. Introductory Slides: This 9-slide presentation provides the necessary background information students need to know about the historical context, literary terms, plot overview, and character relationships. Reading Questions: This study guide includes 39 plot-based questions for students to complete while they are reading the play. A key is included. Journal Prompts: This sheet includes four journal prompts related to the major themes of the play. The prompts can be assigned throughout the reading of the play or as a cumulative assignment. Quiz: This 15-question multiple choice quiz includes questions on both the introductory slides and the plot points. A key is included. The “Well-Made Play” Graphic Organizer: This graphic organizer helps students understand how the play meets the criteria of the genre known as “the well-made play.” Students can make notes as they read or complete the sheet as a cumulative assignment. Key included. Wrap-Up Analysis Writing Assignment: Students identify three changes they believe Oscar Wilde wanted to happen in society or human nature, as evidenced by the targets of his satire. For each change, students write a paragraph that identifies the change, cites and explains textual evidence, and explains whether and why the satirized behavior is still common today. Bonus Sheets: Teacher pacing guide Character assignment chart (for in-class reading) Oscar Wilde’s aphorisms: Students read 46 of Oscar Wilde’s wittiest sayings, then select their favorite three and explain why they appreciate them. 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: British Literature Mega Bundle Sherlock Holmes Unit Bundle Macbeth Unit Bundle Hamlet Unit Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook

Limericks are a great writing assignment for St. Patrick's Day, National Poetry Month in April, National Limerick Day (May 12), reviewing novels or units of study, or just for fun! They fit into the British literature curriculum because English writer Edward Lear made them popular, but they can support learning in any class! This resource includes: A handout with historical information about the origins of limericks and examples from Edward Lear's The Book of Nonsense, which popularized the form, along with examples of limericks based popular works of literature. A template with a brief prewriting exercise, space for an illustration, and lines for the limerick with guidance about content, syllable count, and rhyme scheme. A rubric that reinforces the instructions in the template. (Includes one version with point values and one without.) Tips for teachers about different ways to assign limericks. You can use this resource to assign students to write one limerick or multiple about any topic you like! Other resources you may find helpful: British Literature Mega-Bundle Sherlock Holmes Unit Bundle Beowulf Boast Poem Assignment World War I Poetry Bundle 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 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

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

You teach British literature. You want to save time and money. You need the BritLitWit British Literature Mega-Bundle! These resources will save you tons of prep time, keep your students engaged, and provide a rigorous learning experience—all at an awesome discount! This bundle is a massive help for teachers new to the profession or British Literature, as well as a great refresh for those who have more experience! It includes resources for ten British Literature classics: Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Canterbury Tales, Macbeth, Hamlet, Shakespeare's sonnets, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Frankenstein, The Importance of Being Earnest, and World War I poetry. Additional freebies from my store are included too! Need a different combination of bundles? Just send a note to Jillian through the Q&A or email [email protected] if you're interested in a custom bundle of units! Click the links to take closer looks at the descriptions, previews, and ratings of the individual bundles and resources! Beowulf Unit Bundle Anticipation Guide: Pre-Reading Opinionnaire Introductory Slides Reading Questions Quizzes/Test Epic Conventions Worksheet Hrothgar's Advice Questions & Bumper Sticker Activity Boast Poem Assignment The Reality of Monsters Project Bonus Files: Kenning Worksheet Grendel Description Writing Anglo-Saxon Riddles Discussion/Writing Questions Pacing Guide Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Unit Bundle Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Knight? Intro Activity Introductory Slides Reading Questions Sir Gawain's Report Card Analyzing Quest Stories Quiz Sir Gawain's College Application Essay Bonus files: Pacing Guide What virtues matter most to you? Writing Assignment Canterbury Tales Unit Bundle Introductory Slides Reading Questions Analyzing Irony Assignment Yearbook Superlatives (Freebie!) Prologue Test The Wife of Bath's Tale Reading Questions, Inference Exercise & Quiz The Pardoner's Tale Questions, Quiz & Creative Writing Assignment The Miller's Tale Questions & Quiz "What percent Shakespeare are you?" Just-for-fun intro quiz and presentation Make your intro to Shakespeare more interesting and relatable with this just-for-fun personality quiz and presentation about Shakespeare's life and legacy! Shakespeare's Sonnets Resources Overview handout and recap questions Sonnet unscrambler activity Texts and analysis questions for Sonnets 29, 73, 116, and 130 Sonnet reaction paragraph Teacher's guide Macbeth Unit Bundle Intro Activity: Would You Rather...?: Pre-Reading Opinionnaire Reading Questions Act I Worksheet—The Different Sides of Macbeth Act I Quiz Act II Worksheet—Filming the Dagger Scene Act II Quiz Act III Worksheet—The Third Murderer Mystery Act III Worksheet—The Themes and Motifs of Macbeth, Acts I-III Act III Quiz Act IV Activity—Directing Scene 1 Act IV Quiz Act V Worksheet—Macbeth’s Last Soliloquy Act V Worksheet—Macbeth as Tragic Hero Act V Quiz Final Project—In-Depth Scene Study Creative Writing Assignment—The Unanswered Questions of Macbeth Bonus Files: Intro Slides & Scene Summaries Character Overview Handout Character Assignment Sheet The Minute Macbeth Analyzing the Themes of Macbeth Worksheets Hamlet Unit Bundle Anticipation Guide: Pre-Reading Opinionnaire Introductory Slides Act I Packet Act I Quiz Act II Packet Act II Quiz Act III Packet "To be or not to be?" Soliloquy Matching and Analysis Act III Quiz: Act IV Packet Act IV Quiz Act V Packet Act V Quiz Final Assignment: What makes Hamlet a classic? Final Assignment: In-depth Scene Study The Unanswered Questions of Hamlet Bonus sheets: Pacing guide Character assignment sheet (freebie) Fun "Minute Hamlet" activity Romanticism Anticipation Guide Frankenstein Unit Bundle Pre- and Post-Reading Check-in Introductory Slides Study Packet Quizzes Foils in Frankenstein Worksheet Nature vs. Nurture Worksheet What Makes Us Human? Culminating Assignment Frankenstein Theme and Motif Analysis Final Project: The Frankenfolio Bonus file: Pacing Guide The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Unit Bundle Reading questions Review worksheet Quiz 3 Views of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Analysis Worksheets Literary Merit Analysis Assignment Bonus files: Pacing Guide PDF of the full text of the poem Introductory slides The Importance of Being Earnest Unit Bundle Anticipation Guide: Pre-reading Opinionnaire Victorian Etiquette Quiz Introductory Slides Reading Questions Journal Prompts Quiz The “Well-Made Play” Graphic Organizer Wrap-Up Analysis Writing Assignment Bonus Sheets: Teacher Pacing Guide Character Assignment Chart Oscar Wilde’s Aphorisms Assignment World War I Poetry Bundle Introductory Slides Poems and Questions Packet Writing Assignment Additional freebies! Why We Read Shakespeare Handout "Kubla Khan" Question Packet "To Autumn" Questions Limericks Writing Resources Metaphysical Conceits Worksheet Character Analysis Worksheets Review & Connect to Real Life: For Literary Texts Thank you for choosing BritLitWit—you'll be set up for a great school year, and you'll continue to have access to updates and additions! Just reach out to Jillian through the Q&A or email [email protected] with any questions! Related blog posts: How to keep up the energy during your Beowulf unit How to get Sir Gawain & the Green Knight to make sense to your students Common approaches to the Canterbury Tales Prologue and how to improve upon them Teaching Frankenstein: How to deal with four big challenges How to teach a successful World War I poetry unit Other resources you may find helpful: Sherlock Holmes Unit Bundle Ballads of England & Scotland Resources Literary Symbols Handout & Analysis Worksheet "Araby" (James Joyce) Literary Analysis Worksheets "The Demon Lover" (Elizabeth Bowen) Literary Analysis Worksheets "A Cup of Tea" (Katherine Mansfield) Literary Analysis Worksheets Angela's Ashes Resource Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook

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

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

Kick off and conclude your Frankenstein unit with engaging discussions! Pre-reading activity For the pre-reading part of this resource, students respond to five provocative statements related to the themes of Frankenstein by identifying whether they agree or disagree and explaining their opinions. Post-reading activity For the post-reading part of this resource, students return to each statement to identify how the issue surfaces throughout Frankenstein. Then, they write a longer response to draw connections between one of those issues and a modern problem. Starting off a novel study with an opinion-based discussion always energizes the classroom! Get students to write their answers down first and then have fun sharing out. Students love to see what their peers think, so it works well to post signs for "Strongly Agree," "Agree," "Disagree," and "Strongly Disagree" in the four corners of the room and have them move around to represent their opinion about each statement. At the end of the unit, be sure to bring the discussion full circle by checking in on changed opinions and relevant modern issues! Teacher's guide The teacher's guide lists each statement's connections to issues in Frankenstein and suggested connections to modern issues. Related blog post: Teaching Frankenstein: How to do deal with four big challenges Other resources you may find helpful: Romanticism Anticipation Guide Frankenstein Unit Bundle The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Resource Bundle Hamlet Anticipation Guide Macbeth Intro Activity: Would You Rather...? Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook

The Beowulf Unit Bundle from BritLitWit will have you covered from start to finish with reading questions, quizzes, worksheets, projects, activities, and more! This bundle includes: Anticipation Guide/Pre-Reading Opinionnaire: This resource presents 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 a great discussion starter that helps us with continually comparing our modern-day culture to the culture depicted in Beowulf! Introductory Slides: These Beowulf introductory slides use authoritative sources to prepare your students to analyze the text. The slides include explanations of the general plot, the historical context about the cultures who contributed to the development of the story, how the story developed in the oral tradition before it was written in Old English and eventually translated into Modern English, the cultural values present in the story, and literary devices including alliteration, kenning, variation, digressions, and epic conventions. (The slides are in PDF so formatting is preserved. If you want to project them, just go to the slideshow/presentation mode in the top menu.) Reading Questions: This resource includes 67 questions about the poem's plot, along with prompts for students to note examples of important poetic devices, such as kennings and variation. It includes a version for the Seamus Heaney translation, with the questions broken into ten chunks that provide good stopping points (line and page numbers are noted). It also includes a version of the questions without line or page numbers in case you're using a different translation of the text or want to assign different reading chunks. Answer key included. Quizzes/Test: 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 (the introduction to the Danes through Beowulf's boast), pages 47–113 (Beowulf's fight with Grendel through Beowulf's fight with Grendel's mother), pages 113–end (the story of Queen Modthryth through Beowulf's death). Answer keys are included. Also included is a test version that groups all three quizzes into one. Epic Conventions Worksheet: This 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. Answer key included. (A version that can be used with any epic text also included.) Hrothgar's Advice Questions & Bumper Sticker Activity: Students take a closer look at the leadership advice Hrothgar gives Beowulf after he slays Grendel and Grendel's mother and gets ready to leave (pages 117-123 in the Heaney translation). Students reflect on whether Hrothgar's advice is still relevant in our time. An answer key is provided for these four questions. The resource also includes instructions for an optional extension activity for students to distill excerpts of Hrothgar's speech into "bumper stickers" that represent his main messages. Don't skip it! Students love it and it provides great classroom art. Boast Poem Assignment: This assignment requires students to write a boast poem similar to the one that Beowulf delivers before he fights Grendel! It's a great way to help students prepare for writing college admissions essays. This resource scaffolds the writing process so students are set up for success. The packet includes: a detailed rubric that outlines the requirements for alliteration, kennings, references to family/friends, and personal accomplishments and plans; a full example of a boast poem, which meets every aspect of the rubric; and an optional template that will help students work up a rough draft. The Reality of Monsters Project: This project helps students understand the purpose of literary monsters like Grendel by exploring how real fears of a society become part of folklore, movies, and literature. Students consider why Anglo-Saxons would have believed in monsters or what troubles they could have symbolized, and then they design a monster of their own that taps into a fear common in our own society. Also included: notes for the teacher with ideas to inspire students and guidance about grading. This project is a student favorite! Bonus Files: Lots of extras free with your purchase of the bundle! Kenning Worksheet: Students work in groups to write creative kennings for common words to better understand the poetic device. It's lots of fun to turn into a class competition! Grendel Description Writing: The poet of Beowulf leaves it up to our imaginations to decide what Grendel looks like. This assignment has students describe him in detail and start thinking about the purposes of monsters in literature. Storyboard for the Fight with Grendel's Mother: Students condense the action of this section into a comic strip/graphic novel form. (Includes notes for the teacher about the events in this section.) Anglo-Saxon Riddles: A great filler activity! Students try to work out eight riddles from the culture that created Beowulf. Discussion/Writing Questions: Worksheet with four questions that require deeper thought about Beowulf and its continued relevance. These can be used to guide a class discussion or simply serve as a final writing assignment. A sample pacing guide that will help you plan the use of all of the above materials! Related blog post: How to keep the energy up during your Beowulf unit Other resources you may find helpful: British Literature Classics Mega Bundle Canterbury Tales Prologue Bundle Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Unit Bundle Folk Ballads of England & Scotland Resource Packet Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook

Here's the fun wrap-up activity for Hamlet you need! In this assignment, each student responds in creative writing to an unanswered question related to the play, including: What was Hamlet's relationship with his father like? What was Hamlet's experience on the pirate ship like? Did Fortinbras actually become king? 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 Hamlet Unit bundle. Other resources that you may find helpful: The Unanswered Questions of Macbeth Macbeth Unit Bundle Fun & Creative Activities from BritLitWit 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

Hamlet is a challenge for students and teachers alike, but this bundle will make it much easier to dive into Shakespeare's masterpiece with confidence! The BritLitWit Hamlet Unit Bundle includes pre-reading activities, questions for reading and extended thinking, quizzes and worksheets on all five acts, final projects, fun activities, and more. You'll be all set for an awesome unit! Check out the individual product listings for previews and additional details. Pre-Reading Opinionnaire: Kick off your Hamlet unit with an engaging anticipation guide! For this discussion-based activity, students respond to 10 provocative statements related to the themes and issues of Hamlet by checking off how much they agree with each statement and explaining their opinions. The statements deal with issues including parent-child relationships, spying, rational behavior, and more! Introductory Slides: This intro slide presentation covers the historical context for Shakespeare's writing of the play, themes and motifs, descriptions of the major characters, elements of a revenge tragedy, and ideals of Renaissance humanism. 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. Questions for Reading & Analysis: 110-page resource that includes reading questions, extended thinking questions, and recap & reflect questions for each act, reference information, extensive teacher's guide, and suggestions for how to assign the questions in class and for homework Act I Quiz: 30 multiple-choice questions (All quizzes follow the Questions for Reading & Analysis and cover plot, character development, and themes and motifs.) Act II Quiz: 25 multiple-choice questions Act III Quiz: 22 multiple-choice questions Act IV Quiz: 18 multiple-choice questions Act V Quiz: 20 multiple-choice questions "To be or not to be?" Soliloquy Matching and Analysis: Students understand what Hamlet really means with this cut-and-paste activity that breaks the soliloquy into chunks, and requires them to match each chunk of the play to modernized language. Four analysis questions help students break down Hamlet's reasoning and find ways to relate to the soliloquy today. Final Assignment: What makes Hamlet a classic?: 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. Final Assignment: In-depth Scene Study: Students explain the purpose of the scene and explain the characters' motivations, how they would set the stage and design the characters' costumes to reinforce the purpose of the scene and further the character development, and annotate the scene to provide direction for the actors. The Unanswered Questions of Hamlet: In this creative writing assignment, students resolve unanswered questions about the play Teacher helper: Character assignment sheets (freebie!) Why We Read Shakespeare Handout (freebie!) Also includes a bonus pacing guide! Check out these related blog posts: Read Hamlet aloud in class! 6 tips for making it enjoyable No gimmicky Hamlet intro activities! Stories are important to your students—even if they don't like to read How to explain why we read Shakespeare Other resources you may find helpful: Frankenstein Unit Bundle Canterbury Tales Prologue Bundle Modernist Short Stories Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook

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

Kick off your Hamlet unit with an engaging anticipation guide! For this discussion-based activity, students respond to 10 provocative statements related to the themes and issues of Hamlet. The statements deal with issues including parent-child relationships, spying, rational behavior, and more! Starting off a new text with an opinionnaire always energizes the classroom and gets students grounded in the central conflicts! Have students write their answers down first, and then have fun sharing out. Students love to hear what their peers think, so you can make the activity even more fun by posting signs for "Strongly Agree," "Agree," "Disagree," and "Strongly Disagree" in the four corners of the room and having students move around to represent their opinion about each statement. This resource is flexible! You can use it as a quick intro activity or have students write longer explanations, jigsaw the statements among small groups, or review their responses at the end of the unit to see if their minds have changed after reading the play. It's up to you! Related blog post No gimmicky Hamlet intro activities! Other resources you may find helpful: Macbeth Intro Activity: Would You Rather...? All BritLitWit Anticipation Guides Canterbury Tales Writing Assignment: Seating the Dinner Party Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook

This Beowulf project helps students understand the purpose of literary monsters like Grendel by exploring how real fears of a society become part of folklore, movies, and literature. Students consider why people from ancient times would have believed in monsters or what troubles they could have symbolized and design a monster of their own that taps into a fear common in our own society. For this assignment, students: Identify what kinds of fears literary monsters like Beowulf's Grendel may have represented in ancient times Identify examples of modern fictional monsters and analyze what they represent. Identify a common fear in our society and follow the prompts to design in writing and with visuals a monster that represents it. Students at all levels love this project as a wrap-up for Beowulf! It combines literary analysis with a creative element that makes a clear link between ancient literature and today's media. It's always worthwhile to have the students share their work with the entire class and note the various modern fears they highlighted. Also included: notes for the teacher with ideas to inspire students and guidance about grading. This resource is 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 Canterbury Tales Prologue Bundle Macbeth Unit Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook

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

At last—a set of Canterbury Tales Prologue reading questions that helps students grasp what makes Chaucer's text a classic! This resource includes 68 questions that set students up to examine the purpose each pilgrim serves in the text. This approach avoids making students memorize minor details about pilgrims' clothing or put simplistic labels on their morality. Instead, these questions sharpen students' powers to make inferences by directing them to examine notable descriptions of the pilgrims. For each pilgrim, students draw a conclusion about how he or she represents a timeless human characteristic or situation. Altogether, this way of studying the Prologue cuts out needless "word finds," improves students' reading comprehension skills, and makes it clear what matters about Canterbury Tales so that the class discussion is more enjoyable. Depending on the needs of your class and your schedule, you could complete the reading and questions as a whole group, jigsaw it amongst smaller groups/individuals during class time, and/or assign some of it for homework. A highly detailed teacher's guide is included! Other resources you may find helpful: Hamlet Questions for Reading and Analysis The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Reading Questions Frankenstein Reading Questions Related blog posts: Common approaches to the Canterbury Tales Prologue and how to improve upon them Try a humor unit (especially at the end of the school year!) Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook

This rigorous assignment for the Canterbury Tales Prologue guides students to analyze how different types of irony contribute to the text's humor and help us form judgments about the pilgrims. Interpreting the subtle irony in Canterbury Tales is difficult for most students and leads to a lot of misconceptions about the pilgrims, but this resource gives students practice that will help them understand and enjoy the text. It's just the kind of reading comprehension work high school students need! Resource overview: Students begin the assignment by reading definitions of situational irony and multiple types of verbal irony (including sarcasm, overstatement, and understatement). Then, they examine 29 short excerpts from the Prologue that contain 1-2 forms of irony, label it with the correct type of irony, and explain how the excerpt aligns with that type of irony. The assignment concludes with a wrap-up question about how Chaucer used irony to develop satire about problems in society. A detailed teacher's guide is included! There's plenty of material here, so you could break this assignment up over 2–3 class periods, jigsaw the items amongst groups, complete select items from the bunch, or complete some in class and some for homework. It's flexible and great prep for any assessment on the Prologue! Other resources that you may find helpful: "The Demon Lover" Resources The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Analysis Worksheets Hamlet Activity: "To be or not to be" Modern Language Matching & Analysis Related blog posts: Common approaches to the Canterbury Tales Prologue and how to improve upon them Try a humor unit (especially at the end of the school year!) Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook

These Hamlet character assignment sheets are a simple tool to keep you more organized during your unit. The resource lists the characters that appear in each scene with a space to write a student's name. How the character assignment sheets can help you while reading Hamlet: You can make sure that every student is taking a turn to read.  You can choose different readers for the big roles for each scene so that the division of labor is fairer!  You can save time by assigning roles before class starts (either by drawing names randomly or assigning roles according to your understanding of students’ abilities and preferences).  You’ll be reminded of whose turn it is to read if a student isn’t ready.  If you have to stop in the middle of a scene, you’ll know which student needs to pick up reading the next day.  It’s easy to print/copy these sheets for each class reading the play so you can keep your notes separate. Be sure to check out the rest of the resources included in the BritLitWit Hamlet Unit Bundle! Related blog post: Read Hamlet aloud in class! 6 tips for making it enjoyable No gimmicky Hamlet intro activities! Other resources you may find helpful: Macbeth Act III Worksheet: The Third Murderer Mystery Beowulf Project: The Reality of Monsters The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Bundle Keep in touch with BritLitWit! Blog Instagram Pinterest Facebook