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Learn about how to read and annotate a work of fiction, such as a short story or novel.
| 0:00 | Owl: Welcome to Annotating a Work of Fiction, an instructional video on reading comprehension brought to you by the Excelsior University Online Writing Lab. |
| 0:15 | Reading a work of fiction, such as a short story, play, or novel, can be easier if you know what to look for and annotate while you read. |
| 0:24 | When reading a work of fiction, you should look for several key elements. |
| 0:29 | First, make a note of the major characters. |
| 0:32 | Many times there is a main character, or protagonist, who is the focus of the story. |
| 0:39 | The protagonist may be a hero or anti-hero, someone who is flawed but still fulfills the role of the hero. |
| 0:47 | There may also be an antagonist, someone who is opposed to the main character. |
| 0:53 | Every story has a setting, a place and time where the story unfolds. |
| 0:59 | The setting may be historical or invented. |
| 1:03 | Every story also has a plot. |
| 1:06 | The plot is the action that unfolds throughout the story. |
| 1:09 | Traditionally, a story plot centers around a conflict and a resolution. |
| 1:15 | A common plot formula has five stages. |
| 1:18 | It begins with an exposition that introduces the characters, setting, and events leading up to the story. |
| 1:25 | It then goes through a series of events known as the rising action during which conflict escalates. |
| 1:33 | This leads to a climax that marks a turning point for the main character or characters. |
| 1:38 | Afterwards comes the period of falling action during which conflicts are resolved. |
| 1:45 | Finally, the plot ends with a resolution that concludes the story. |
| 1:51 | As stories, works of fiction have a narrator who tells the story from a particular point of view. |
| 1:57 | There are different types of point of view. |
| 2:00 | For instance, a story with first-person point of view is told by a particular character and uses the pronoun “I” or “we” to tell the story. |
| 2:10 | A story with second-person point of view features the reader as the main character and uses the pronoun “you.” |
| 2:16 | While less common, this point of view is featured in choose-your-own-adventure books. |
| 2:22 | Finally, a story with third-person point of view is told by a character or entity who has privileged knowledge of the main character; this narrator uses the pronouns “he,” “she,” or “they” to tell the story. |
| 2:37 | The third-person narrator is sometimes called the omniscient narrator because of its privileged knowledge of events and characters’ thoughts. |
| 2:47 | Every narrator also has a particular tone. |
| 2:50 | For instance, Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels is told by a narrator with a humorous and satirical tone. |
| 2:58 | On the other hand, the narrator in George Orwell’s 1984 has a serious and even tragic tone. |
| 3:05 | The narrator’s tone helps establish the feeling and meaning of the story. |
| 3:10 | Finally, every story has one or more themes that it develops. |
| 3:15 | A theme is a major idea expressed by a story. |
| 3:19 | For instance, the Myth of Sisyphus conveys the theme that human endeavor is ultimately futile, whereas Takikiji Kobayashi’s “The Cannery Boat” emphasizes the theme of working-class unity leading to successful resistance to oppression. |
| 3:36 | Look for these elements as you read and identify them with a highlight, underline, or margin note. |
| 3:43 | Let’s try this with the short story “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin. |
| 3:49 | Write the main characters in the margin: |
| 3:52 | Louise Mallard |
| 3:53 | Brently Mallard, husband |
| 3:56 | Josephine, sister |
| 3:59 | Richards, friend of Brently |
| 4:02 | Describe the setting: |
| 4:04 | Late nineteenth century at the Mallard residence |
| 4:08 | Define the point of view: |
| 4:09 | Third-person omniscient |
| 4:12 | …And the tone: |
| 4:13 | Ironic (characters misinterpret Louise’s behavior) |
| 4:18 | Finally, list the key themes: |
| 4:21 | freedom, |
| 4:22 | selfhood, |
| 4:23 | self-fulfillment, |
| 4:25 | and the meaning of love |
| 4:29 | A good way to keep track of the major elements of a story is to construct a story map either during or after you read. |
| 4:36 | A story map will help you identify the major elements of a story and remember them for later, say when it comes time to write about the story or take a quiz. |
| 4:45 | Click here to watch a video about how to make a story map. |
| 4:50 | Following these simple steps will help you improve your ability to read and understand works of fiction like short stories, plays, and novels. |
| 5:00 | If you need help understanding common literary devices found in works of fiction, such as metaphors and symbols, you may also want to take a look at our instructional video on Understanding Figurative Language. |
| 5:15 | Thanks for listening to this instructional video on Annotating a Work of Fiction! |
| 5:21 | Visit the Excelsior University Online Writing Lab for more support with reading and writing skills. |
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