Charles Identity Analysis Worksheet
Grade 6 Short Story Analysis • Shirley Jackson
Charles Story Analysis
Name:
Date: Period:
RACES Strategy:
Restate Answer Cite ("...") Explain Sum Up
1 Part I: Story Check Multiple Choice
Fill in the bubble for the best answer (4 pts)
1. How does Laurie act at home once kindergarten begins?
A. He is polite, quiet, and helpful B. He slams doors, shouts, and talks back C. He refuses to speak about school at all D. He cries because he misses his mother
2. Why are Laurie’s parents excited for the PTA meeting?
A. To meet the mother of bad-boy Charles B. To ask for harder kindergarten work C. To volunteer to help the teacher D. To see Laurie receive an award
3. Which clue hints that Laurie might be Charles?
A. Laurie brings home gold stars each week B. Laurie pauses to invent the name "Charles" C. Laurie asks to invite Charles to dinner D. The teacher sends home warning notes
4. In Laurie's family, what does "doing a Charles" mean?
A. Making a silly mistake or being naughty B. Eating all your vegetables at dinner C. Helping clean the kindergarten room D. Falling asleep early on a school night
2 Part II: RACES Response • Character Traits
Focus: Laurie's Behavior
Prompt 1: How does Laurie's behavior at home show what kind of character he really is? Describe one disrespectful thing Laurie does at home and what it proves about him.
Use RACES: Restate • Answer • Cite quote • Explain proof • Sum up
Checklist
[ ]R [ ]A [ ]C [ ]E [ ]S
Shirley Jackson's "Charles" • 6th Grade RACES Analysis Worksheet Page 1 of 2
Charles Story Analysis | Part III: Deep Dive RACES Questions
Student Name:
Prompt 2 • Theme: Lessons About Parents & Kids
What lesson does the story teach about parents and their children? Why were Laurie’s parents so easily fooled by his stories about Charles?
Use RACES: Restate • Answer • Cite quote • Explain proof • Sum up
Checklist
[ ]R [ ]A [ ]C [ ]E [ ]S
Prompt 3 • Setting & The Surprise Ending
How does the setting of the PTA meeting at the school create the big surprise ending? What does the mother find out when she speaks to the teacher?
Use RACES: Restate • Answer • Cite quote • Explain proof • Sum up
Checklist
[ ]R [ ]A [ ]C [ ]E [ ]S
Part IV: Detective Check • The Final Truth
At the end, the teacher says: "We don’t have any Charles in the kindergarten." In 1–2 sentences, explain who Charles really is and why Laurie invented him.
RACES Checklist: R/A: Restate & Answer C: Direct Quote E: Explain Reason S: Closing Line
Page 2 of 2