Developing Comprehension Questions
The following questions are representative of questions that can help to make clear each of the characteristics in any story material. These questions can serve as a guide to the teacher in developing specific structured questions. These questions will also be helpful if you are planning on using more than one class novel at a time.
1.Genre and Narrator:
What type of story is this?
Who is telling the story?
2. Style and Language:
What does the author mean by (word phrase, or sentence)?
What does the word ______________make you think of?
How does this (word phrase, or sentence) make you feel?
Explain the meaning of some figurative language (simile, metaphor) in your story.
Why does the author compare ___________ to ______________?
Could (description of figure of speech) really occur? Why does the author use this description?
3. Characterization:
What do you learn about the most important character in the story?
What do you learn about other characters in the story?
What does (character name) do in the story?
What words does the author use to describe the character?
How do you know that this is a real (imaginary) character?
If you were this character, what would you do
differently?
Which character do you like best? Why?
4. Plot/Major Events
What is the main problem the characters face?
When does the problem begin?
What do the characters do to try to solve this problem?
How is the problem solved?
What happens after the problem is solved?
Was there another way that you might have solved the problem?
Does the end of the story fit with the rest of it?
5. Setting and Mood:
How does the author describe when the story takes place?
How does the author describe where the story takes place?
Does the description of the characters fit the place where the story is said to have occurred?
Does the language of the characters fit the time and place?
How does the story make you feel? What does the author do to make you feel this way?
6. Theme
What is the main point of the story?
What does the story tell you about people?
What does the story tell you about the world?