About this Worksheet:
Edgar Allan Poe’s 1842 short story “The Oval Portrait” presents a story within a story. The narrator has been hurt. He and his servant find shelter in an abandoned mansion for the night. The narrator is resting in one of the bedrooms which is filled with paintings. One of the paintings is the portrait of a beautiful young woman who seems almost to be alive. After studying the portrait for a good while, the narrator reads about it in a book he has found about the paintings. Students read the passage and answer questions. This activity is ideal for middle and high school grades.
