Study Guide for Citizen Kane & Comprehension Test

Citizen Kane
by Orson Welles
About_
This study guide accompanies an in-depth look at Citizen Kane, Orson Welles’s landmark film about the rise and fall
of a powerful newspaper tycoon. Students trace Charles Foster Kane’s journey from an impoverished childhood to
immense wealth and influence, and ultimately to isolation at Xanadu. Along the way, they explore his key
relationships, larger questions about power and love, and the film’s groundbreaking visual storytelling. This study
guide contains 78 questions across 6 chapter sections (60 Factual + 18 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and
1 Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 6 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (60 total), 6 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (18 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 9-11
Teacher Note_
This guide is designed to save you preparation time while giving students a structured way to engage deeply with a
complex character and narrative structure. The factual questions build comprehension and attention to detail,
while the critical questions push students to grapple with themes of power, love, and loneliness. We hope it sparks
rich classroom discussion