Printable Short Story Analysis Worksheet designed to help readers analyze key elements of a story, including setting, characters, tone, and theme.

This worksheet is a template, which means it doesn’t have one single "correct" answer like a math problem. Instead, you fill it out based on the specific short story you are reading in class.

To help you complete your homework, I have filled out the worksheet using a very famous short story called "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe as an example. You can use this to see how to answer the questions, then apply the same logic to the story you are actually reading.

Example: The Tell-Tale Heart

Story Title: The Tell-Tale Heart

As you read, jot down 3 questions that come to mind:
1. Why does the narrator insist he is not mad if he is hearing things?
2. What exactly was wrong with the old man's eye?
3. Will the police believe him, or will they find the body?

| Section | Questions/Prompts | Example Answers (Based on "The Tell-Tale Heart") |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Setting | What is the setting—the time and location? How important are these elements? Could it be set in another time/place? | Time/Location: It takes place at night, inside an old house, specifically in the old man’s bedroom.<br>Importance: Very important. The darkness and silence make the sounds (like the heartbeat) seem louder and scarier. It creates a creepy mood. |
| Characters | Who are the characters in the story? | 1. The Narrator (the person telling the story).<br>2. The Old Man (the victim).<br>3. The Police Officers. |
| Characterization | Who is the main character? Describe him/her. Does this person’s character change? | Main Character: The Narrator. He is nervous, obsessed, and claims to be sane but acts crazy.<br>Change: He starts off calm and calculated, but by the end, he becomes panicked and confesses because he can't handle the guilt (or the noise). |
| Tone | Describe the tone of the story. How does the author create the tone? Textual examples? | Tone: Suspenseful, paranoid, and eerie.<br>How: The author uses short, choppy sentences to show the narrator's anxiety. <br>Example: "True!—nervous—very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?" |
| Imagery | What pictures could you visualize as you read the story? | I can picture the dark room, the single ray of light from the lantern hitting the old man's blue "vulture" eye, and the floorboards being pried open. |
| Point of View | What narrative perspective is the story told from? | First-Person Point of View. The narrator uses "I" and tells us his own thoughts and feelings directly. We only know what *he* knows. |
| Conflict | List internal and external conflicts. | Internal (Self vs. Self): The narrator struggles with his own obsession and eventual guilt/paranoia. He fights against his own madness.<br>External (Self vs. Person): The narrator vs. the Old Man (he wants to kill him). Later, it is the Narrator vs. the Police (trying to hide the crime). |
| Theme | What is the main idea of the story? | Theme: Guilt will eventually force you to reveal the truth. Even if you think you are clever enough to hide a bad deed, your own conscience (represented by the beating heart) will catch you. |

***

How to do this for YOUR story:

1. Setting: Look for clues about weather, time of day, or furniture. Ask yourself: "Would this story work if it happened in a sunny park instead?" If no, the setting is important.
2. Characters: List everyone who speaks or does something. Pick the one the story focuses on most for the "Main Character."
3. Tone: How does the story make you feel? Scared? Happy? Sad? Look for words the author uses that create that feeling.
4. Conflict:
* *Internal:* Is the character fighting a decision in their head? (e.g., Should I tell the truth?)
* *External:* Is the character fighting another person, a storm, or society?
5. Theme: Finish this sentence: "This story teaches us that..." (e.g., "...honesty is the best policy.")

Final Answer:
Since this is a blank worksheet, there is no single correct answer. You must fill in the boxes based on the specific short story assigned in your class. Use the example above ("The Tell-Tale Heart") as a guide for how to structure your answers.