1.4.5: Annotating a Work of Fiction

Annotating a Work of Fiction

Learn about how to read and annotate a work of fiction, such as a short story or novel.

Video Transcript

0:00    Owl: Welcome to Annotating a Work of Fiction, an instructional video on reading comprehension brought to you by the Excelsior College 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 College Online Writing Lab for more support with reading and writing skills.

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