Analyzing Poetry: “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Read and answer comprehension questions about Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's classic narrative poem "Paul Revere’s Ride." The poem was written in 1860 during a period of crisis in America. At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Longfellow may have been trying to use the heroic image of Paul Revere to inspire American nationalism and to create a sense of urgency to protect the union. As they complete this extensive six-page worksheet, students will explore poetic and figurative language while using context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words and phrases. They will also analyze the poem’s tone and the speaker’s point of view, citing text evidence to support their thinking.

This reading comprehension worksheet makes a great addition to an eighth-grade English unit on American poetry or a history unit on the American Revolution. For more iconic American poetry resources, check out the Analyzing Poetry: "'Hope' is the thing with feathers" by Emily Dickinson and Analyzing Poetry: "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes worksheets.