This document provides tools and terms for analyzing fiction texts such as short stories, novels, and poems. It discusses 7 key elements to examine: 1) the setting which establishes the physical and contextual world of the story, 2) the plot which summarizes the sequence of events, 3) the mood or atmosphere created, 4) the main and subsidiary characters, 5) the central theme(s), 6) the narrative structure including point of view and chronology, and 7) the literary style and forms used. Analytical questions are provided for each element to help guide close reading and examination of the text.