The Aspern Papers by Henry James, study guide & Activities

The Aspern Papers
by Henry James
About_
The Aspern Papers is Henry James’s novella about an unnamed narrator’s obsessive quest to obtain the private
letters of a deceased poet he idolizes, Jeffrey Aspern, by insinuating himself into the lives of the poet’s aging
former lover, Juliana Bordereau, and her niece, Miss Tita. This study guide breaks the novella into six chapter
sections covering the narrator’s deceptions, his growing entanglement with the two women, and the fate of the
coveted letters. 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 11-12, College Introductory
Teacher Note_
This guide is a great way to help students unpack the moral ambiguity and dense prose of Henry James while
building strong comprehension and analytical skills. The blend of factual and critical questions encourages close
reading and rich classroom discussion. We hope it saves you valuable prep time so you can focus on guiding your
students through this subtle, layered text.