Rules of Notice for Reading Fiction Or “The Unspoken Rules of Reading Fiction

Titles & Subtitles  Tells us where to focus our attention  Provides a core around which to organize our interpretations Ask:  What is the meaning of the title?  Tells us where to focus our attention  Provides a core around which to organize our interpretations Ask:  What is the meaning of the title?

First & Last Sentence / Beginnings & Endings  Consider the first and last sentence of a piece (short story, chapter, novel) in your interpretation/understanding  Important information placed in these positions Ask:  What is the meaning or message of the first or last sentence of this piece?  Consider the first and last sentence of a piece (short story, chapter, novel) in your interpretation/understanding  Important information placed in these positions Ask:  What is the meaning or message of the first or last sentence of this piece?

Repetition  Repeated actions/ ideas meant to attract the attention of the reader  Repetition suggests importance Ask:  Why is this image, idea, detail being repeated?  Repeated actions/ ideas meant to attract the attention of the reader  Repetition suggests importance Ask:  Why is this image, idea, detail being repeated?

Metaphors & Similes  Used to draw attention to a certain aspect or idea in text  Pay close attention Ask:  What associations are the reader intended to make based on figurative language?  Used to draw attention to a certain aspect or idea in text  Pay close attention Ask:  What associations are the reader intended to make based on figurative language?

Typography  Words or phrases italicized or otherwise set apart from the rest of the text  Calls attention to the reader Ask:  What is the purpose of certain elements of typography?  Words or phrases italicized or otherwise set apart from the rest of the text  Calls attention to the reader Ask:  What is the purpose of certain elements of typography?

Spacing & Line Breaks  Notice how the text is broken apart  May signal change in time structure (flashback), narration, etc. Ask:  What shift has been created due to spacing and line breaks? What is the purpose of this shift?  Notice how the text is broken apart  May signal change in time structure (flashback), narration, etc. Ask:  What shift has been created due to spacing and line breaks? What is the purpose of this shift?

Epigraphs  A quote that comes before the beginning of a text  Raises expectations of events about to come Ask:  What is the meaning or the message of the epigraph?  A quote that comes before the beginning of a text  Raises expectations of events about to come Ask:  What is the meaning or the message of the epigraph?

Threats, Warnings, and Promises  Pay close attention  May predict the shape of the text Ask:  What predictions can be made based on a threat, warning, or promise made by a character?  Pay close attention  May predict the shape of the text Ask:  What predictions can be made based on a threat, warning, or promise made by a character?

Details Given at a Climactic Moment  Should receive special stress  For example:  when an event changes a major character’s relationship to other characters, then the event is read as important;  when an event or detail answers a question around which the narrative has been based, it is emphasized Ask:  What shifts in character’s relationships, added details, and foreshadowing have occurred during suspenseful moments? What might this mean?  Should receive special stress  For example:  when an event changes a major character’s relationship to other characters, then the event is read as important;  when an event or detail answers a question around which the narrative has been based, it is emphasized Ask:  What shifts in character’s relationships, added details, and foreshadowing have occurred during suspenseful moments? What might this mean?

Apparent Irrelevance / Inappropriate Behavior  Any detail or comment that seems irrelevant should be noted  Unexpected or inappropriate (out of the norm) behavior by a character should be noted Ask:  Why is the character behaving differently? Why is this detail seem random? What might these changes or details mean to the story or message?  Any detail or comment that seems irrelevant should be noted  Unexpected or inappropriate (out of the norm) behavior by a character should be noted Ask:  Why is the character behaving differently? Why is this detail seem random? What might these changes or details mean to the story or message?