What was the author attempting to do?
- What is the author’s purpose, scope, view, attitude, and/or theme?
- Was a picture of a type of life presented?
- What material is covered? What material is stressed?
- What ideas on life, liberty, morals, society, religion, etc. are shown? Does the author’s ideology about any of these things show in the work? How?
- Does the author’s background influence the work? How? Check a reference about the author to answer this question?
How well did the author succeed in his/her attempt?
- What stylistic faults and excellences does the work have? Look at the length of sentences, the vocabulary, the use of dialogue or dialect. What devices are used to achieve style?
- Did the work’s structure (short story, essay, novel) support the content? How?
- Is the work convincing or dull? Why? Would some readers find the work excellent? Would others think that the work was inferior? Why?
What value does the work have?
- Analyze and/or interpret the author’s theme and purpose. Does the work accomplish that purpose?
- Is the work light or does it contain serious social significance? Is this good or bad?
ශිල්ප 64