Narrative comprehension refers to understanding and interpreting the meaning of stories or narratives. It involves several cognitive processes, such as attention, memory, reasoning, and inference used to make sense of the events, characters, and relationships described in a narrative.

Narrative comprehension is vital for several reasons: 

The Fundamental way of Communication and Understanding the World

Narratives are a fundamental way humans communicate and understand the world. Stories are used to convey information, share experiences, and create meaning. Thus, comprehending narratives is crucial for effective communication and social interaction.

Linked to Literacy and Academic Success

Narrative comprehension is closely linked to literacy and academic success. Reading comprehension, which is a critical component of academic achievement, relies heavily on the ability to understand and interpret narrative texts. Students who struggle with narrative comprehension may experience difficulties in various subjects, including language arts, social studies, and science.

Important for Mental Health and Well-being

Narrative comprehension is vital for mental health and well-being. Stories can provide a powerful means of emotional expression, catharsis, and a source of inspiration and hope. Individuals who can comprehend and appreciate narratives may be better equipped to cope with difficult life experiences and find meaning and purpose in their lives.

Narrative Comprehension Questions 

Narrative comprehension questions are a tool used to assess one’s understanding of a story or narrative. These questions range from simple recall questions to more complex inference and analysis questions.

By asking narrative comprehension questions, teachers and educators can evaluate students’ comprehension skills, identify areas of weakness, and provide targeted instruction to improve their comprehension abilities.

Types of Narrative Comprehension Questions

Quotation Questions

Quotation questions are narrative comprehension questions that ask readers to identify and analyse specific quotes or passages from a story. These questions help readers understand the story more deeply by focusing on critical moments and ideas within the text.

Example:

In To Kill a Mockingbird (1960), identify the passage that reveals Atticus’

values on justice and equality.

Literal Questions

Literal questions are narrative comprehension questions that focus on the most basic facts and details of a story. These questions are designed to test a reader’s ability to recall specific information from the text.

Example:

Who is the story’s narrator in The Great Gatsby (1925)?  

Inferential Questions

Inferential questions are a type of narrative comprehension question that requires readers to make logical deductions based on the information presented in a story. These questions go beyond simply recalling facts and need readers to use critical thinking and analysis to draw conclusions and predict the narrative.

Example: 

In Animal Farm (1945), what can you predict will happen to the farm animals after the pigs take over?

Comparison Questions

Comparison questions are a type of narrative comprehension question that require readers to identify similarities and differences between different elements of a story. These questions help readers to develop a deeper understanding of the narrative by encouraging them to consider the relationships between other characters, events, or themes.

Example:

Identify the similarities and differences between the two love stories in Romeo and Juliet (1597) and West Side Story (1961).

By engaging with different types of narrative comprehension questions, readers can improve their reading comprehension skills, critical thinking abilities, and overall understanding and appreciation of the narrative.

Narrative comprehension is essential for communication, success, and well-being. We can improve our understanding and appreciation of the narratives around us by asking and answering different comprehension questions.