This GCSE English Literature quiz takes a look at understanding the text in Silas Marner by George Eliot. It is not always easy to understand a text. After all, if authors had a simple message to convey, it would not take them hundreds of pages and thousands of words in which to do so! Difficulty can be compounded when you are reading a text written a long time ago, as in the case of Silas Marner. The English language changes quickly and sometimes it takes a bit of practise to get used to how authors wrote in the past.
Authors convey meaning through using a variety of methods. They very rarely state what they mean directly. Instead, character, setting, plot, theme and dialogue offer authors a means to communicate with the reader.