Four levels of Interacting with the texts

I. Literal comprehension: Literal comprehension implies the ability to restate the

argument. In novels, short stories, poems, and plays, it implies a concise retelling in my
own words. This is what we call a summary of the text

II. Interpretation: Key points of works of fiction and non-fiction are implied, and
deciphering the meaning behind the plot is interpretation. Often, this level also involves
the question: Can some points be extended to circumstances beyond those directly
touched upon by the author? What is the author trying to say?

III. Critical thinking: Here one tries to see things clearly and objectively. One looks for
the flaws, and then moves beyond them to an objective and judicious evaluation of the
subject at hand. One asks such questions as: Where did the author go wrong? Which
statements can’t I accept? Why can’t I accept them? Which aspects of this text
survive this filtering process intact? What are the positive aspects of this story?

IV. Assimilation: This involves making something of what you have read a part of
yourself. One asks such questions such as: What is the meaning of this text for me? Can I
tie this text to something I already know? Can it help me understand anything I didn’t
understand before? Did it enhance my appreciation for beautiful of good things? Does it
suggest some connections that I, and perhaps others, have never perceived before?

Note: Readers often apply these four levels simultaneously, interwoven, and
spontaneously. They read texts, bearing in mind the potential applicability and
inapplicability of these levels.

Four levels for – A Tale, By BP Koirala

Literal Comprehension: Once upon a time, a man went into the jungle and started
penance to win supreme knowledge and godhood. He conquered his flesh and mind and
achieve a state of unending meditative delight. Indra, the king of gods was afraid that
the sage might seize his throne through penance. Then he sent a beautiful nymph to
destroyed the sage’s penance. The attractor posture of the nymph in the river made the
sage open his eyes involuntarily. Then both of them married and led a domestic life.
They help needy people in the village. But the villagers were suspicious of him and they
always blamed the woman for his downfall, but the sage had the same inner peace even
when he was leading the domestic life.

Interpretation: This story might be trying to tell us that after you get supreme
knowledge, it is not necessary for you to live in the jungle and that you will enjoy the
same happiness everywhere. It may also be interpreted to mean that to an enlightened
person the joy derive from any source is similar.
Critical Thinking: For modern people, this story is unacceptable from any point of
view. Is God there in heaven? Is god so envious (jealous) of human beings? Is god so
helpless that they really need the help of ordinary human beings?

Assimilation: This story reminded me of the story of Vishwamitra and Menaka a

nymph, had destroyed the penance of the sage Vishwamitra and they had become the
parents of Sakuntala. It also convinces me how powerful sexual passion is. It never dies.
I have understood my own passion batter and tried to use it correctly.

4 Levels – Marriage is a private affair, Chinua Achebe

Literal comprehension:

Marriage is a Private Affair is a story written by the famous Nigerian writer ‘Chinua
Achebe’. In this story, he described Nigerian or African culture. The writer showed the
relationship between Nnaemeka who was a city boy/Ibo tribe. And Nene who was a city
girl/ school teacher/ another tribe. They used to love each other & wants to involved in
marriage. When Nnaemeka said about their love affair to his father (Okeke) but his
father did not accept it. It is because Okeke had already chosen one girl (Ugoyo) from
the same tribe. Also, Okeke wants his daughter in law has good knowledge about the
bible & the ability to do the work for their house. By, misunderstanding Okeke goes
away from his son.

Then Nnaemeka & Nene involved in marriage. After involved, they live a happy life.
After six months later Nene sent a letter to her father in law with marriage photos but
her father in law tore that letter & returned it to his daughter in law. In this way, eight
years later Nnaemeka & Nene got two lovely sons & they want to meet their
grandfather. And, again they sent a letter to his father. But, that time when Okeke
received this letter he in haste to meet his son’s family. And, they all were met with each
other. At last, Okeke accepts his son & son’s affair. In this way, the writer insists on love
marriage as well as a private marriage affair.

Interpretation: Maybe the writer trying to show us the conflict between traditional
culture & modern culture. Where Nnaemeka was modern & Okeke was a traditional
type of person. It insists on love marriage which makes more happiness than arrange. It
also suggests we should be free or independent to choose our life partner. Also, if we are
a superstitious, narrow-minded, traditional & conservative type of a person it brings us
tensions & problems. So, the writer used to suggest that we should make our mind wide
perspective, mutual understanding as well as we should not attach to traditional
culture. It also shows the generation gap between first Okeke, second Nnaemeka & third
Nnaemeka’s sons.

Critical thinking:

In terms of the positive point of view, this story is interesting to read & I also have taken
entertainment from it. However, I am not fully satisfied with some statements of this
text,
How can we believe that private or love marriages always create happiness?
Can a father reject his own son due to a misunderstanding about marriage?
Also, how can a son leave his own father for a girl?
Is it possible for the Okeke to accept the marriage of his son only with a letter?
Is it possible for all the teenagers to involve in marriage without their father as well as
family?
Assimilation: Before reading this text I used to think that arrange marriage is the best
for us. Family, society as well as culture are important to involve. And, I believed in it.
But after reading this text I came to know that private or love marriages also create
more happiness than arrange. So, I have decided to involve in love marriage like
Nnaemeka & Nene, & reject the traditional culture.

4 Levels – Keeping Errors At Bay

Bertrand Russel

Literal Comprehension: This essay by Bertrand Russell provides multiple examples of

mistake that people generally commit in their day to day life. His main idea is to provide
suggestions to avoid mistakes. We need a careful, serious, critical and analytical mind to
get rid of these errors. This essay deals with the ideas of avoiding errors that happen in
our daily life situations.
1) Observation: We can remove many foolish opinions by observing the related
facts. When observations are impossible, we have to compare our ideas with
those of the others. If there are evidence and knowledge, there will be no wrong
understanding.
2) Traveling: Visiting different places and observing societies of the world also
helps us to purify your own opinions.
3) Other’s opinion: Knowing other idea makes us less dogmatic. If we have a one-
sided idea about anything, we will not find out the truth, such a situation, we will
make our good points more important.
4) Get rid of fear: Fear and prejudice of different types create obstacles from
learning the truth or reality. So we should be very careful while doing any work.
We should not take as granted anything without proper observation.

Interpretation: To err is human but to do a mistake is not excusable. Human makes

errors knowingly or having known about that error is not human. This is somewhat
punishable also. We cannot find truth without proper understanding. The essay tries to
tell us why human beings are unable to see the truth. They do not see the matter. They
have an illusion that they know everything without knowing it properly. It says that we
have some mistakes generally we do not compare our idea with that of others. We
unnecessarily feel pride and ignore things. Therefore, we commit crimes or errors. This
is human but to do mistake knowingly cannot be human. There are solutions for errors
but not knowingly committing mistakes.

Critical Thinking: Russell gives a very concrete idea about errors and their solutions.
He says how and why we do errors and how can we correct them. After reading this
story I came to know and have some questions. The essayist has presented a scientific
way of thinking. By comparing and contrasting, we can judge our own ideas. I agree
with many things which the essayist says but there are some questions in my mind.
Who can remain without doing any error? How can one know that it is error and this
not? Can we change our mind not to doing errors? Why people cannot find out the fact
easily? How we can compare such things to those of the others? What are the forms of
the truth? How to know whose idea is right or wrong? Because of these reasons
generally, people commit errors in life.

Assimilation: Generally, we think right whatever we do. This essay gave me lots of
ideas about errors and their types as well as their remedies (solution). I started to
realize my mistakes in my life as I sometimes used to stubborn and think everything
right. I started to honor other’s ideas. I also came to know why people mistake while
making ideas. A wise man should look at things from different sides. We should be
comparative and multidimensional perspectives should be used. I came to know that we
can do errors in every work every time but that is only found out after its proper
judgment.