Questions in Literary Narrative passages often go beyond surface-level comprehension—they test how well you can "read between the lines" and connect themes, character arcs, narrative techniques, and authorial intent.
Understanding the Author’s Purpose or Perspective
Skills Assessed:
- Interpreting narrative choices (why the author included something)
- Recognizing the narrator's or author's underlying attitude or beliefs
- Identifying the function of a specific literary element (e.g., flashback, tone shift)
How to Answer:
- Pay attention to context: Look at the paragraph or section surrounding the line in question.
- Identify narrative function: Ask yourself: Is this moment building tension, showing character change, or revealing background?
- Watch tone and diction: The author’s attitude is often revealed through word choices—sarcasm, nostalgia, admiration, etc.
Example Question:
What is the most likely reason the narrator describes her mother’s silence in such detail?
Strategy:
Check if the silence serves to show tension, emotional restraint, or character depth. Consider how it contrasts with other parts of the narrative.
Evaluating Multiple Perspectives
Skills Assessed:
- Comparing and contrasting characters' viewpoints
- Identifying conflict between internal emotions and external actions
- Understanding social or psychological dynamics between characters
How to Answer:
- Mark shifts in point of view or tone: These are clues to changing or contrasting perspectives.
- Track dialogue and reactions: Dialogue often reveals subtle opinions or hidden tensions.
- Note inner thoughts (if in first-person or limited third-person): These help clarify differences between appearance and reality.
Example Question:
How does the narrator’s perception of her brother differ from how others in the story view him?
Strategy:
Identify moments where the narrator gives a unique insight or judgment about the brother, and contrast that with how he behaves publicly or is described by others.
Synthesis Across the Passage
Skills Assessed:
- Connecting developments across different parts of the story
- Tracking a character’s evolution or emotional journey
- Recognizing repeated themes, symbols, or motifs
How to Answer:
- Map emotional or thematic progression: How does the character feel at the beginning vs. the end?
- Pay attention to recurring imagery or phrasing: These often hint at underlying themes.
- Link cause and effect across scenes: A decision in paragraph 2 may have emotional consequences in paragraph 8.
Example Question:
Which choice best describes how the narrator’s attitude toward the town changes over the course of the passage?
Strategy:
Identify descriptive language about the town early in the passage and compare it to language later on. Look for tonal shifts—resentment turning to nostalgia, say.
Analyzing Intertextual References or Literary Allusions
Skills Assessed:
- Recognizing references to other texts, cultural figures, or historical events
- Understanding how these allusions deepen meaning or reveal character
- Evaluating how the allusion contributes to theme, tone, or point of view
How to Answer:
- Identify the reference: It could be a quote, a myth, a biblical mention, a historical figure, or a well-known literary work.
- Ask why it's included: Does it reflect a character's worldview, provide irony, or emphasize a theme?
- Read for context: If you’re unfamiliar with the reference, look at how the narrator or character responds to it—often, the surrounding text gives clues to its meaning.
Example Question:
In the context of the passage, what is the effect of the narrator comparing her grandfather to King Lear?
Strategy:
Even if you don’t know King Lear in detail, the passage might mention themes like aging, madness, pride, or downfall. Use those clues to connect the allusion to the character traits being explored.