Questions to analyze narrative texts

Questions for the Analysis of Novels and Short Stories

  1. What is this novel about?
  2. Is this an autobiographical novel?
  3. What is the ideology of the novel?
  4. What is the chronology of the novel?
  5. Whose story is it?
  6. What is the basic conflict?
  7. What happens in the novel?
  8. What are the characteristics of the narrative voice(s)?
  9. Who is the Focalizer?
  10. What is the historical context of the novel?
  11. How are the sexual/gender roles assigned?
  12. How does the novel deal with issues of nationalism and identity?
  13. What is more important, to tell the story o the narrative techniques?
  14. Why do we keep on reading the story?

Prof. John S. Brushwood designed this list. I have modified to fit this course goals and objectives. MM