40 pages • 1 hour read
Herman MelvilleBartleby, the Scrivener
Herman MelvilleFiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1853A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
During Reading
Reading Questions & Paired Texts
Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.
Reading Check
1. Who is the narrator of the story?
2. How does the narrator meet Bartleby?
3. What is unusual about Bartleby’s behavior and attitude toward work?
4. Who are Turkey and Nippers, and how do they respond to Bartleby?
5. What does the narrator learn about Bartleby when he stops by the office on a Sunday?
6. How does the narrator solve the problem of Bartleby’s refusal to leave his office?
7. What finally happens to Bartleby?
Short Answer
Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.
1. How does Bartleby’s behavior affect the dynamics of the narrator’s workplace?
2. Why does the narrator not fire Bartleby?
3. What is the significance of the “rumor” about Bartleby’s past that the narrator shares at the end of the story?
Recommended Next Reads
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
- Melville’s renowned novel explores themes of obsession, human nature, and the search for meaning.
- Shared themes include Literary Absurdity and Poverty and Pity.
- Moby-Dick on SuperSummary
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
- Kafka’s novella delves into themes of alienation and identity.
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