Make thorough notes about characters. Every bit of information you receive about a character is important. Your instructor may have questions on the exam that ask you to identify a character by something as simple as a personality trait. You should make note of everything the author has to say that identifies each character.
Write down dates and settings. Another trick instructors use on exams is to ask you to identify a piece by its date or setting. For example, an exam may state, “List the novel that takes place in Atlanta during the Civil War.” With the proper notes, you’ll be able to quickly answer this question.
Discuss events that took place during the writing of the piece. It’s important to make a few notes about what was happening when a piece was written. This not only helps you determine why the author might have written the piece, but it also helps you identify the story.
Remember to make notes about the author. Notes about the author are more important than you might think. A literature instructor may also ask you to identify authors. This can be extremely hard, especially if you failed to read up on the authors. A few simple notes about the author’s time period and their other works will help you answer these questions.
Read between the lines for the real meaning. When you take a literature exam, your instructor will be looking for more than what the story says. The instructor doesn’t want you to write down the story word for word. What they want is for you to tell them what the story means. They’re looking for an explanation of what the author is trying to say. After reading the story, write down your thoughts immediately. This ensures that your notes are as thorough as possible.