STUDY

Factual stories are true. Fictional stories come from an author’s imagination. Therefore, they require different strategies. We read them in a different way, and we look at different things. Here are four common things to think about when reading and analyzing literature.

1. Setting - Where does the action take place? When does the action take place? Why did the author choose this time and place? What do they add to the story?

The setting helps to create the mood and atmosphere of the story, and it can influence the characters' actions and decisions. It's like the background of a picture or a movie that helps to set the stage for the story. Knowing the setting can help the reader better understand and picture the story.

2. Characters - Who are the people in the story? What are they like? How do they act? More importantly, what do they want?

Characters can sometimes be animals and even things. Imagine, for example, a story about a dog. The dog is then a character. Or imagine a story about the sinking of the Titanic. Much of the story is about the ship, so the ship itself is another character in the story.

3. Plot - What happens in the story? What is the situation at the beginning? What changes? What is the conflict? How is it resolved?

Conflict in literature means when the characters in a story have a problem or disagreement that they need to solve. This problem can be about anything such as friendship, fairness, or fighting. The conflict helps to make the story exciting and interesting to read because the characters need to figure out how to solve the problem. Once they solve the problem, the story usually ends happily.

4. Theme - What is the author's message? What is the moral or lesson?

Themes can be about many things, like love, friendship, courage, or justice. The author uses characters, plot, and setting to express the theme. Understanding the theme can help the reader connect with the story and relate it to their own experiences. For example, the theme of a story about a character who overcomes adversity might be that we can achieve anything if we work hard and believe in ourselves.