Reading: Reading Literature

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Reading literature (fiction, poetry, memoirs, for example) requires a different approach than reading nonfiction, instructional writing. Meaning in literature isn’t often stated directly, but is implied. You have to get a sense on your own of what the work means, instead of having the author explicitly saying, “This is idea 1, and this is idea 2.”

Good writers do create stories that are organized and comprehensible. For example, a story usually follows some organization, whether it’s told chronologically, in flashbacks, from different perspectives, and so on. Also, writers provide many clues to the meaning or main idea(s) they want you to get from the work. The following sections cover strategies for reading literature.

Looking for Key Literature Elements

When reading literature, you won’t be able to skim for meaning. You’ll have to look for other important elements to help you. In particular, the following are important to consider when reading literature:

• Characters: Who are the main characters in the piece? Who is the narrator, the person telling the story? Does this person have a bias? That is, can you trust what he or she says? What are the names and roles of the main characters?
• Events and interaction: What happens in the story? How do the characters interact? How are they related or connected? Why do the characters act or behave the way they do? Why do the events play out as they do?
• Setting: Where does the piece take place? Is the setting critical to the story? Does the setting provide background? Does the setting give historical, physical, or other information that is key to the story?
• Time: When does the story take place? Is it timeless (like, for example, some poetry pieces), or is it grounded in a particular place and time (like Crane’s story of the Civil War in The Red Badge of Courage)?
• Organization: How is the story organized? Most commonly, stories are told chronologically, but in some works, you may find that the author moves back and forth (in time as well as place).
• Writing style: What does the writing style tell you about the story? Is the writing richly detailed? Or sparse? (For example, Hemingway was famous for his Spartan writing style.) How does the writing style affect the meaning? Do you have to make assumptions or guesses because there are gaps?
• Symbolism: Symbolism can be tricky because, sometimes, as the saying goes, “A cigar is just a cigar.” Other times, a journey represents something beyond just the trip itself. For example, Tom Sawyer’s trip was more about his development as a person than his trip down the river.
• Theme: What are the themes of the story? What elements or ideas are repeated or emphasized? Think about this throughout your reading, not just at the end. Notice what people, places, and events pop up over and over again.
• Retelling of a story: Many stories are in some way or form a retelling of a previous story. If you think about Tom Sawyer’s trip, you can find other trips from Greek mythology (Homer’s Odyssey) to the Bible (the trip of the Magi). These are just a few examples.

Experience Grows

As you read more literature, your awareness and ability to spot important symbolism will grow. Also, your instructors should help you spot important details that have meaning beyond their face value.