Keep in mind that you can ask mooooore questions than these, all depends on the information given as you read the text >:)

1. What are the theme/sub-theme of this text (if known)
2. For each character shown; what are their goals? How does this goal affects their action? Can u interpret it?
3. How do characters’ motivations and conflicts develop the theme
4. What is the impact of the text’s structure and style on the reader’s interpretation

Instead of just identifying literary devices, always connect them to meaning.

Technique → Immediate Effect → Deeper Meaning → Theme

• Technique: imagery, symbolism, diction, tone
• Immediate Effect: what the reader feels or notices
• Deeper Meaning: what it suggests about the characters or situation
• Theme: the larger message of the text

Example:

Symbolism → the locked door
Effect → creates secrecy and tension
Meaning → truth is being hidden
Theme → secrecy and control

Tone	What it Suggests
Uneasy	Tension, uncertainty
Detached	Emotional distance
Melancholic	Sadness, grief
Cynical	Distrust of society
Ominous	Foreshadowing danger
Nostalgic	Longing for the past

Perspective	Effect on Reader
First Person	Creates intimacy but may be unreliable
Limited Third Person	Reader only sees one character's knowledge
Omniscient	Allows wider understanding of society or multiple characters
Child Narrator	Highlights innocence vs reality
Fragmented Narration	Suggests psychological instability

Structure refers to how information is arranged and revealed. Ask yourself how the organization of events shapes meaning.

Structural Choice	Effect on Reader	Possible Meaning
Delayed information	Creates suspense or curiosity	Reader experiences discovery alongside the character
Flashback	Interrupts present events	Shows how the past influences the present
Contrast between scenes	Highlights differences	Emphasizes conflict or character change
Repetition of events or imagery	Draws attention to patterns	Suggests obsession, memory, or thematic importance
Fragmented narration	Feels disjointed or confusing	Reflects psychological instability or trauma
Circular ending	Ending mirrors the beginning	Suggests inevitability or lack of change

Helpful Questions:

• What information is revealed first? What is hidden?
• Does the story move chronologically or jump through time?
• Why might the author delay or repeat certain moments?
• How does the beginning prepare the reader for the ending?
• How does the structure influence the reader’s understanding of the theme?

Instead of only describing characters, try to understand why they behave the way they do and how their psychology contributes to the text's meaning.

Aspect	Questions to Ask	Why It Matters
Desire / Goal	What does the character want?	Reveals motivations that drive the plot
Fear or Limitation	What prevents them from achieving their goal?	Creates internal conflict
Internal Conflict	Are they torn between two values, beliefs, or choices?	Shows psychological complexity
Behavior	How do their emotions influence their actions?	Links psychology to plot development
Change	Do they grow, regress, or remain unchanged?	Shows character development or stagnation
Symbolic Role	What idea or theme might this character represent?	Connects the character to the text's deeper meaning

Helpful Questions:

• What does the character believe about themselves or the world?
• What emotional state influences their decisions?
• Do their actions match their beliefs, or contradict them?
• How does their psychology influence the theme of the text?
• What does the character ultimately reveal about human nature?

1. What are the theme/sub-theme of this text (if known)
2. For each character shown; what are their goals? How does this goal affects their action
3. How do characters’ motivations and conflicts develop the theme
4. What is the impact of the text’s structure and style on the reader’s interpretation
5. What information is revealed first? What is hidden?
6. Does the story move chronologically or jump through time?
7. Why might the author delay or repeat certain moments?
8. How does the beginning prepare the reader for the ending?
9. How does the structure influence the reader’s understanding of the theme?
10. What does the character believe about themselves or the world?
11. What emotional state influences their decisions?
12. Do their actions match their beliefs, or contradict them?
13. How does their psychology influence the theme of the text?
14. What does the character ultimately reveal about human nature?