Basically, this is how you read a story

Many college students are surely having problems with their Literature subjects. One time, I was with my PE groupmates, who came from different courses, and they were discussing how hard their course was. I didn't join their conversation, but I have thought of a reply.  

Sure, my course (AB Literature) is very easy. It's not that hard, I mean you'll just be reading texts, right? For sure you're also passing that subject as easy, noh? 

But then again, they find their minor Literature courses as a burden. They discard it as something they wouldn't use for their future careers, anyway. You may have the same dilemma. I'm not bragging about how hard Literature is. Just keep your prejudices away before saying that your Literature courses are a burden. Steering your mind off biases is the first step to read a story. You have Phil. Lit as a course, and you must pass it. 

There is, in literary criticism, what we call the Formalist approach. This was how all of us, regardless of curriculum and teacher, were taught literature. We dissect a story's plot, characters, theme, point of view, etc.  Basically, this is how you should read a story. 

Considering that most of you aren't that much attuned to reading lengthy blog posts in paragraph form like this, I just wrote the questions that you should ask yourself when reading a literary text. 

THEME

• What is the main idea that is being expressed in the text? 
• Are there any other ideas that are expressed?

CHARACTER

• Who are the main characters?
• Who opposes these main characters?
• Who are the supporting characters?
• What roles do these characters play in the story?  

PLOT

•  What are the main events in the story? (Sequence them logically according to their sequence in the story) 
• CONFLICT. A story's plot has many parts, but at least, you must detect where the conflict lies. Determine where the interests of the main characters and opposing characters clash and what that event is.