The Call of Cthulhu
by H.P. Lovecraft
About_
“The Call of Cthulhu” by H.P. Lovecraft follows narrator Francis Wayland Thurston as he pieces together his late
grand-uncle’s papers, a strange carved idol, and scattered testimonies of shared nightmares and cult worship from
around the world. Told in three parts, the story slowly builds a disturbing mythology that culminates in a doomed
sea voyage and a direct encounter with an ancient, monstrous being. This study guide explores the story’s three
major sections and their themes of forbidden knowledge, cosmic insignificance, and inherited dread. This study
guide contains 39 questions across 3 chapter sections (30 Factual + 9 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1
Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 3 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (30 total), 3 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (9 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 10-12
Teacher Note_
This guide is designed to help students track the story’s layered, document-based structure while pushing them
toward deeper analysis of its themes. The factual questions build comprehension and close-reading skills, while the
critical questions and character focus activity encourage students to grapple with the story’s unsettling ideas. We
hope it saves you preparation time and sparks great classroom discussion!