Literary Response Questions

Literary Response Questions

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Literary Response Questions

Instructions: Choose questions from the sections below to answer about your take home reading books. Record the question numbers and answers

for the questions you choose on your green Literary Response Journals.

A. Characters

  1. Describe one character’s personality? What makes you believe this?
  2. In what way has the main character changed since the beginning of the book? Tell what occurred to make the changes take place.
  3. Do you like or dislike the characters? Why?
  4. What characters in the book would you like to be? Why? What personality traits of this character would you like to acquire? Explain.
  5. Choose one character. Why was this character important in the story?
  6. Does one of the characters do something you disagree with? Why do you disagree and why do you think they did it?

B. Setting/Mood/Point of View

  1. How did an aspect of the setting effect the story today? Was time, weather, or place important?
  2. What major parts make up the setting of your novel?
  3. What is the saddest or funniest part of this novel?
  4. How would the story be different if it had been set in a different time?
  5. How do you feel at this point in the story; what is the mood? What made you feel that way?
  6. Who is telling the story? How can you tell? Why do you think the author chose to tell the story from his/her eyes?
  7. If this were told from someone else’s eyes, how would it change?
  8. Is there anything from this character’s point of view that may make them an unreliable source? If so, what might make them less objective?

C. Theme/Plot

  1. What is a theme of the story? Why do you think this?
  2. What is the main conflict in the story? How do you think it may be solved?
  3. What is the most important event that happened in the section that you read today? Why do you think it is important?
  4. What passage or event in the book is the most important? Why is it important?
  5. Have you noticed anything you think the author might bring up again later in the story? If so, what did you notice?
  6. What is the author saying about life and living through the book?
  7. Has the book helped you in any way? Explain.
  8. How would this book be different if the main character had acted differently at a changing point?
  9. What do you think will happen next? What do you think will happen at the end?

D. Author’s Style/Purpose

  1. Tell about the images the author has left in your mind through figurative language.
  2. What special words has the author used so far to help you see, hear, or feel things in the story?
  3. What did the author have to know (research) in order to write this story?
  4. Reread either the first paragraph of the book or the first paragraph of what you read today. What is in it to make you want to read on? If nothing, why did you continue?
  5. Do you have any comments about the author’s technique/style of writing?
  6. How is this book like/different from other books you’ve read? Compare and contrast the books.

E. Connecting to You

  1. Does a character in this story remind you of anyone else you have read about or know? If so, how are they alike?
  2. Do you think the title fits the book? Why or why not?
  3. What connections are there between the book and your own life? Explain.
  4. If there is something that you did not understand about what you read today, what did you not understand? What do you think it might mean?
  5. Who else should read this book? Why? Who shouldn’t read it? Why?
  6. What questions would you like answered after reading this book?

F. Non-Fiction / Informational Reading

36. What did you like learning about the most? Why?

37. Would you like to read more books about this topic? Why? or Why not?

38. What pictures/illustrations did you find most interesting? Why?

**Note** Bold / italicized questions can apply to fiction and/or non-fiction selections.

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