To be able to understand a text, you need to be able to analyse the text,  that is to break it down into components which you may take a closer look at. This is the way to 'get under the skin' of the text. The idea is to get an understanding of  what the text is really about, why the author wrote it and what message he wants to give us.

Composition: -divide the text into sections and give each a headline!
  - Note that the opening of the story is important, because it is here that the author creates the atmosphere (mood) of the story and here that he hints as to what the story is really about in order to make you curious.
- Also pay special attention to the ending of the story as it is here the author gives us some sort of conclusion.
- Note how the author creates the atmosphere.
- Make a note of what exactly it is that makes you want to go on with the story.

Time and place:
In order to understand the ideas, morals, ways of thinking and behaving in the story you have to find out 1) when it was written ( as to the author's way of thinking) and 2) when the story takes place ( as to the characters' ways of thinking).
People in puritan Victorian England did not think of for instance sex the same way as we do today and Victorian England was quite different from India at the same time.
Look out for such pieces of information as for example: ' In the radio they talked of the recent disaster of the Bay of Pigs...' or ' He had bought  this new car called Toyota...' or ' She went to have her hair styled...'
Sometimes time and place may have symbolic meaning.

Character sketches:
To be able to thoroughly descibe a character in a story you would do well in looking at the following points: age, looks, language, education, social status, job, marital status, habits, behaviour, view of others and of life in general.
Consider whether the character undergoes some sort of development during the story.
Consider what kind of a human being such a character may be in view of all your information.
Important characters who are well described, we call 'round figures'
Unimportant characters who are not so well described, we call ' flat figures'

Point of view: ( synsvinkel - synspunkt)
Who relates the story and thus interpretates ( fortolker) the goings on?
What are the narrator's points of view (synspunkter)?
Is he objective or subjective?
Does he base his interpretation on a certain cultural, historical or traditional point of view?
Does he know what the characters are thinking?
Is he himself part of the story...etc.?
 

Theme:
What is the story underneath the story (i.e. what is the story really about)?
There may be a number of themes in a story, depending on the reader's point of view or interests/background.
The theme of a story often appears in 'a dialogue between the reader and the story'.
Generally, however, the author has his own theme.
The theme is usually some  idea which the author wants us to consider, discuss and take a stand on.

Message:
Often the author has already reached some conclusion as to his theme and he may want us to reach the same conclusion, or he is challenging us to contest his opinion, or he just wants us to think about the ideas in his story.

Parallels:
Compare the story with other stories you have read - by the same author, - on the same subject/theme - in the same genre etc.
Or find parallels in your own life/society/ religion etc.

Evaluation:
Did the story have a message to 'you'?
Did it change anything as to your own view of the theme?
Has it changed you? Made an impact on you? Why? How?
What do you think of the text itself? Such texts in general. Such themes?

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