See if you can get all ten questions correct in this enjoyable GCSE English Literature quiz on Anita and Me by Meera Syal. Understanding a text is necessary before you are able to analyse and write about it. Comprehension seems as if it might be a fairly basic task, but is not as easy as it sounds. If texts could be reduced to a plot structure and a simple message, then authors would not need to expend so much energy and so many words to express their ideas!
Authors use a variety of methods to convey meaning. Sometimes authors state the meaning unambiguously, but it is more typical for an author to communicate indirectly through other aspects of fiction, such as character, setting, plot, theme and dialogue. By analysing each of these elements, you will increase your understanding of the text. It is usually best if you find time to re-read the text.