Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring

Worksheet Description

In this High School Literary Nonfiction Comprehension worksheet, students will delve into the thought-provoking world of Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring.” Focusing on the first chapter titled “A Fable for Tomorrow,” this worksheet encourages students to engage deeply with Carson’s writing.

First, students will be prompted to examine how the chapter begins, setting the stage for the environmental narrative that follows. Next, they will explore a pivotal event about a third of the way through the chapter and Carson’s descriptive language in portraying it. As students progress, they’ll decipher the hints Carson drops about the cause of the “mysterious maladies” she discusses.

The worksheet concludes by prompting students to analyze how Carson blends literary elements with her nonfiction narrative and how she closes the chapter, leaving them with a deeper appreciation for the intersection of storytelling and environmental advocacy.