Study Guide for :The Devil in the White City & Comprehension Test

The Devil in the White City
by Erik Larson
About_
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson intertwines two remarkable true stories: the construction of the 1893
World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and the crimes of the serial killer H.H. Holmes, who used the fair’s chaos
as cover. This study guide breaks the narrative into five sections, tracing both the architectural triumph of the
‘White City’ and the darker underside of the era. It also includes a crossword puzzle reinforcing key names and
terms, along with a character study of the book’s most chilling figure. This study guide contains 65 questions across
5 chapter sections (50 Factual + 15 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 5 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (50 total), 5 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (15 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 pushing students to engage deeply with both the
historical detail and moral complexity of Larson’s narrative. The factual questions build comprehension and close
reading skills, while the critical questions invite students to grapple with contrast, deception, and consequence.
We hope it makes your unit both easier to teach and richer for your students.