How to Study

Aesthetic (Pleasure) Reading

“To read a writer is for me not merely to get an idea of what he says,

but to go off with him, and travel in his company.”

—Andre Gide

Most fiction is an attempt to tell a story. There is a beginning, in which
characters and setting are introduced. There is a conflict or struggle
that advances the story to a climax—where the conflict is resolved.
A final denouement or “winding up” concludes the story. Your litera-
ture class will address these parts using terms that are often more
confusing than helpful. The following are brief definitions of some of
the more important ones:

Plot.The order or sequence of the story—how it proceeds from
opening through climax. Your ability to understand and appreciate
literature depends upon how well you follow the plot—the story.

Characterization.The personalities or characters central to the
story—the heroes, the heroines, the villains, and the supporting
characters. You will want to identify the main characters of the story
and their relationships to the struggle and to each other.

Theme.The controlling message or subject of the story; the moral or
idea that the author is using the plot and characters to communicate.

Setting.The time and place in which the story occurs. This is especially
important when reading a historical novel or one set in another culture.

Point of view.Who is telling the story? Is it one of the central
characters giving you flashbacks? Or is it a third-person narrator
offering commentary and observations on the characters, the setting,
and the plot?

The first step in reading literature is to familiarize yourself with these
concepts, then try to recognize them in each novel or short story you
read. As you begin your reading, approach it first from an aesthetic
standpoint: How does it make you feel? What do you think of the
characters? Do you like them? Hate them? Relate to them?

60 How to Study