Read your assignments before your teacher devotes class time to them. If you're already familiar with the literature that your class will be discussing, you're more likely to understand what is being said. You'll probably also remember the information better when it's test time.
Read your assignments in their entirety instead of relying on a summary. While it may be tempting to think reading a summary, such as those offered by SparkNotes, will give you the necessary information for less work, you'll only be hurting your grade in the end. Summaries are abbreviated, which means they might not have the information you need, and they sometimes contain inaccuracies.
Read to understand. Don't just skim your eyes along the page; engage with the material. Look up any words you don't know in the dictionary, take notes of any ideas or concepts that you might need explained and don't try to read too fast.
Read your assignments more than once. Read your assignment one time passively so that you understand the text's general structure and information. When you read the assignment a second time, you can take your time and actively try to understand what the text means.
Ask questions in class. If you've already read all of the material a couple of times but still have questions, don't be afraid to ask them. Chances are, someone else in the room has the same question.
Learn good writing strategies. Many literature classes require you to write essays about your reading assignments or take essay-based tests, so you'll want to know how to write clearly. Ask your teacher for help, visit a tutor or simply practice writing about the assigned piece of literature to familiarize yourself with the topic.
Prepare for tests by getting enough rest and consuming a balanced breakfast. Even if you've devoted quality time to studying and know the material, you'll have a hard time recalling information if you're tired and hungry.
Remain calm and stress free. Whether you need to write a paper or take a test, as long as you thoroughly read your assignments, attended all classes and asked questions when necessary, you will probably be fine.