"The Pit and the Pendulum" Quiz, Close Reading, and Vocabulary Development Bundle
"The Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe is a short story of special appeal to high school students interested in horror stories and Halloween. With this bundle of assessment materials, English teachers will save valuable time without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Included are the following: a plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, a crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. (Alternatively, a Google Drive bundle option is available.) By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Consider the role punctuation plays in terms of developing suspense and advancing plot with an emphasis on em dashes
Demonstrate knowledge of the conventions of Dark Romanticism
Determine the effects of the author's language and narrative techniques
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on allusion, metaphor, onomatopoeia, paradox, personification, sibilance, situational irony, and more
Articulate how the author establishes and maintains a surreal tone throughout the story
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Gothic fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
This resource may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
More materials are available for teaching dark fantasy and horror:
Creative Writing Unit Plan for Gothic Fiction - Google and printable
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe (Volume 1) - Google and printable
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe (Volume 2) - Google and printable
The Works of H.P. Lovecraft (Volume 1) - Google and printable
The Works of H.P. Lovecraft (Volume 2) - Google and printable
Preview this resource:
"The Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe is a short story of special appeal to high school students interested in horror stories and Halloween. With this bundle of assessment materials, English teachers will save valuable time without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Included are the following: a plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, a crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys.
