Main points in fiction | Main ideas and supporting details | Achievable Praxis Core: Reading (5713)

Even though fiction passages are not as clearly structured as nonfiction ones, they generally focus on a moment of change in a particular character, location, or mood. As you read, look for that moment.

For example:
This passage is taken from Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë, found at Project Gutenberg. Jane and Rochester are about to get married when the ceremony is disrupted.

“I require and charge you both (as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgment, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed), that if either of you know any impediment why ye may not lawfully be joined together in matrimony, ye do now confess it; for be ye well assured that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God’s Word doth allow, are not joined together by God, neither is their matrimony lawful.

“He paused, as the custom is. When is the pause after that sentence ever broken by reply? Not, perhaps, once in a hundred years. And the clergyman, who had not lifted his eyes from his book, and had held his breath but for a moment, was proceeding: his hand was already stretched towards Mr. Rochester, as his lips unclosed to ask, “Wilt thou have this woman for thy wedded wife?”—when a distinct and near voice said — “The marriage cannot go on: I declare the existence of an impediment.”

Here, the new idea–that Jane and Rochester can’t marry–is introduced by a rhetorical question: “When is the pause after that sentence ever broken by reply?” Sure enough, this is that one time in a hundred: the silence is broken, and the marriage does not take place.

Predicting the audience or title of a passage

Some questions ask you to select the best title of a passage or to predict the passage’s likely audience. In these cases, consider these questions:

The purpose of the passage. Was it written to inform, persuade, entertain, or challenge readers?
The author’s point of view about the topic.
The author’s tone. Is it serious or amusing? Sincere or cynical?
The probable age, location, profession, and interests of readers for whom the passage is intended.
Any assumptions about the topic that readers might have.

Here’s an example:

This passage is from The Schartz-Metterklume Method by Saki found at Project Gutenberg. Lady Carlotta has just missed a train.

Before she had time to think what her next move might be she was confronted by an imposingly attired lady, who seemed to be taking a prolonged mental inventory of her clothes and looks.

“You must be Miss Hope, the governess I’ve come to meet,” said the apparition, in a tone that admitted of very little argument.

“Very well, if I must I must,” said Lady Carlotta to herself with dangerous meekness.

“I am Mrs. Quabarl,” continued the lady; “and where, pray, is your luggage?”

“It’s gone astray,” said the alleged governess, falling in with the excellent rule of life that the absent are always to blame; the luggage had, in point of fact, behaved with perfect correctitude. “I’ve just telegraphed about it,” she added, with a nearer approach to truth.

“How provoking,” said Mrs. Quabarl; “these railway companies are so careless. However, my maid can lend you things for the night,” and she led the way to her car.

What is the tone of the passage?

a, Comic
b. Serious
c. Pedantic
d. Dramatic
e. Realistic

(spoiler)

Answer: a. Comic is correct because the language of passage is lighthearted: Lady Carlotta pretends to be someone else with amusing results.

b. Serious is incorrect. Lady Carlotta is not upset about missing the train, and the “dangerous meekness” with which she accedes to Mrs. Quabarl’s mistaken assumption implies that the story will be funny.

c. Pedantic is incorrect because it means dull and boring. The action of the story is unexpected and happens quickly, drawing the reader in.

d. Dramatic is incorrect because it implies seriousness. The passage is too lighthearted to qualify as dramatic.

e. Realistic is incorrect because the passage’s descriptions of the characters and missing luggage indicate that the story is not meant to be a depiction of real life but rather one that pokes fun at a particular sort of person.