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Facilitate reading comprehension and sharpen literary analysis skills with this bundle of activities and assessments covering Nathaniel Hawthorne’s mysterious short story “The Ambitious Guest.” A plot-based quiz, close reading inference worksheet, vocabulary definitions handout, vocabulary application exercise, crossword puzzle, word search game, and answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.

“The Ambitious Guest” blends American Romanticism with themes of mortality and the fragility of human goals. Its allegorical style and thought-provoking conclusion provide rich opportunities for classroom discussion, while the concise length makes it accessible for high school students. The mysterious, seemingly paranormal ending also makes the narrative an excellent addition during the Halloween season.

Students will practice and demonstrate the following essential ELA skills:

• Identifying literary devices including foreshadowing, metaphor, personification, and situational irony.
• Analyzing tone and diction to interpret meaning and mood.
• Evaluating characterization, including the symbolic role of the grandmother and the stranger.
• Making logical inferences about theme, setting, and authorial purpose.
• Exploring historical context, especially how the story reflects early American ideals such as humility, family loyalty, reason, and piety.
• Recognizing irony and its role in the story’s mysterious resolution.
• Supporting claims with evidence to build analytical and argumentative writing skills.