Identify repeated ideas, words, images, or events
Notice what the main character wants and what stands in the way
Look at how the character changes from beginning to end
Pay attention to conflicts and what they reveal
Ask what message the story seems to suggest about life, people, or society
Examine important symbols and what they represent
Consider the story’s setting and how it affects the meaning
Look for contrasts between characters, choices, or outcomes
Notice the story’s ending and what it implies
Ask what lesson, insight, or central idea stays the same throughout the story