CHAPTER
1
Reading
Reading Strategies
Strategies
Reading opens many doors. It is a skill that
you will use and develop throughout your life.
Reading gives you insight into yourself. It
also gives you information about other people
and the world around you. You can read for
many reasons—to gain information, to amuse
yourself, or to understand a problem or issue.
This chapter will give you some key strategies to become a better reader. You can use
these strategies to understand and appreciate
short stories, poems, plays, novels, and newspaper articles.
Contents
Learning Goals
Reading Short Stories
3
■ read and discuss a variety of genres
Reading Poetry
7
■ learn about a range of reading strategies
Reading Plays
11
■ select and use effective reading strategies
Reading Novels
17
Reading Newspapers
22
■ understand basic elements of short stories, poetry,
drama, novels, and nonfiction
■ understand some important rhetorical and literary
devices
READING POETRY
Reading Poetry
From earliest history, people have created poetry to express their most
important thoughts, feelings, beliefs, stories, and dreams.
Much of poetry’s power comes from the way in which poets use
language. In poetry, the fewer words, the better. Poets also use powerful images to appeal to our senses, and create beauty through
rhythm and other poetic sound devices.
Poetry demands special reading strategies.
General Strategies for Reading Poetry
1. Read the poem more than once. Every time you read it, you will
learn something new.
2. Read slowly, paying careful attention to punctuation. Don’t stop at
the end of a line unless there is a reason to do so.
3. Read the poem aloud. Poems are meant to be heard as well as read.
How to Read a Poem
Strategy 1: Consider Title, Author, Nationality, and Date
• Pay attention to the title. A poem’s situation, purpose, or theme
may be suggested by its title.
• Check to see if information about the poet is included with the
poem. If it isn’t included, research it. Research also when and
where the poem was written. This information can help you understand the events described, or why the poet used certain types of
language.
Strategy 2: Make Personal Connections with the Poem
• As you read, record your first impressions and responses to the
poem. What are your thoughts and feelings about the poem? What
parts affected you most? What questions do you have about the
poem?
• Do you identify with the feelings expressed in the poem? Think
about when and where you had similar feelings or experiences.
How were those feelings and experiences similar?
READING STRATEGIES
7
READING POETRY
Strategy 3: Identify the Poem’s Purpose
Poems are written for different purposes. For example:
• A lyric poem expresses powerful emotions.
• A narrative poem tells a story.
• Light verse is intended to amuse an audience.
As you read any poem, ask yourself what the poet is trying to
accomplish. After reading the poem, ask: Did the poet accomplish his
or her purpose?
Strategy 4: Discuss Your Ideas with Others
Discuss your responses, ideas, and questions with classmates. Often,
their observations and ideas can help you see the poem in a fresh
way.
Strategy 5: Appreciate the Poet’s Craft
Cross-Reference
See the Glossary to learn
about metaphor, simile,
personification, alliteration, assonance, consonance, and rhyme.
As you read the poem, note the words and phrases the poet uses, and
the effects these words and phrases create. For example:
• Literary devices are used to appeal to the reader’s imagination.
Metaphors and similes are common devices. When the poet uses a
metaphor such as: “The moon was a ghostly galleon sailing the
broad dark seas,” the reader creates a mental picture based on the
poet’s words.
• Personification—giving non-human things human qualities—is
another effective device, because humans always understand
human emotions. For example: “The wind made the trees moan.”
• Imagery is vivid description that appeals to our five senses. For
example, imagery in a poem that describes the smell of freshly
baked bread takes us right into the scene.
• Poetic sound devices are words and phrases that appeal directly to
the ear. Rhyme is the device you are most familiar with.
Alliteration, assonance, and consonance are other devices that
enhance the sound of poetry.
Using the five strategies you’ve just learned, read the
following poem.
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CHAPTER 1
READING POETRY
How Do I Love Thee?
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,—I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
READING STRATEGIES
9
READING POETRY
Apply It!
Read the poem “How Do I Love Thee?” and complete
these activities.
1. Paraphrase the poem. When you paraphrase a poem,
you summarize it in your own words. Share and discuss
your paraphrase with some classmates.
2. Which of the following did you find in this poem?
Share evidence of your findings with a partner.
• metaphor
• assonance
• simile
• consonance
• personification
• alliteration
• rhyme
Checklist
Did I include all important details of
the original poem in my paraphrase?
Did I keep the tone as well?
Did I look for metaphors, similes,
personification, rhyme, assonance,
consonance, and alliteration in the
poem?
Did I share my findings with my
partner?
Did I work well with other group
members throughout the planning and
presentation stages of the multimedia
project?
3. As a group, prepare a multimedia presentation of this
poem. Your work might include any combination of the
following media in the presentation:
• audio- or videotape
• computer
• music
• visuals (e.g., original artwork or magazine photos)
See Chapter 9 for ideas on how to create your
presentation.
Think About It: How did discussing the poem with classmates and sharing ideas with others help you
improve your understanding of the poem?
Troubleshooting: Be Positive
Some students think poetry is difficult to understand. Do you? It may
help to remember that
1. poetry helps you better understand your thoughts and feelings
2. poetry is found in the lyrics of all your favourite songs
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CHAPTER 1