Study Guide for :The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing & Comprehension Test

The Grass is Singing
by Doris Lessing
About_
This study guide accompanies The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing, a novel exploring race, isolation, and
psychological collapse on a struggling farm in colonial Southern Rhodesia. It is designed to build comprehension of
plot and character while encouraging deeper critical reflection on the novel’s themes. Each chapter section pairs
factual recall questions with an answer key alongside open-ended critical questions. 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 11-12 (mature themes of race, violence, and psychological distress suit an upper-high-school or
introductory college audience)
Teacher Note_
This guide is built to save you prep time while still pushing students past plot recall into real analysis of character
and theme. The mix of factual and critical questions supports differentiated discussion, and the crossword and
character activity offer a lower-stakes way to reinforce vocabulary and empathy. We hope it helps your students
engage thoughtfully with this challenging but rewarding novel.