Comprehension Questions: Straightforward and Sometimes A Necessary Form of Assessment

Moderns forms of teaching and assessment and evaluation focus on contemporary methods. While it is always beneficial and fun to include electronic and alternative forms of formative assessment in class, sometimes it is necessary to give students a few direct questions that test their understanding, and reading comprehension.

Studying William Shakespeare is not an easy subject in school due to students' unfamiliarity with old English. There is always a little bit of tention when a teacher tells the class that they are starting a Shakespearean unit. While some students may love it, others will hate it. And I won't deny it, the language is difficult. And so, I believe that giving students straightforward, comprehension questions can be vital for the teacher to determine student understanding and highlight areas or scene he or she might need to re-teach.

Below are some sample questions I have given out to my students during one of my teaching practicums.

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Act One Questions

Scene 2

1. Capulet eventually agrees to consider allowing Paris to marry Juliet. Under what conditions?

2. On page 33, lines 38-44, we meet the servant. He is instructed to send out the invitations to Lord Capulet's party, but he has a predicament. Explain his predicament. How does he explain it?

3. It is clear that the element of chance (fate or destiny) is introduced early on in the play. Where does it occur in this scene, and how is it expressed?

4.  In Scene 1, line 222, Benvolio says, "Be ruled by me." If you were Romeo, would you be ruled by Benvolio? What advice is he offering to Romeo in Scene 2? 

Scene 5

1.      Knowing what you do about Romeo and Juliet, how do you account for them falling in love so quickly? How much of a role does physical attraction play?

                           

2.      Look at page 67 and page 69, lines 93-109, and explain the metaphor Romeo and Juliet use during this scene. What purpose does this metaphor serve?

3.      Describe Lord Capulet's reaction to seeing people from the House of Montague at his party. How does Tybalt react?