Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension, practice critical thinking skills, and explore literary elements with this close reading analysis worksheet on chapter 27 of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Ideal for Freshman English and American Literature courses, this activity guides students through rigorous, text-based questions that push them to explore character development, historical context, literary craft, and more. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will do the following:

• Read for literal comprehension
• Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed
• Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
• Determine the tone of a given excerpt
• Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing
• Conduct brief research on the Great Depression’s influence on common Halloween practices, especially in the South
• Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
• Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
• Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction