[header] How to read and understand classic literature [title] Read summaries of what the work is about. [step] You can find descriptions or summaries of classic works of literature online, or read the back cover of the book to gain a basic idea of what the story is about. Knowing a bit about the plot, characters, and setting may make it easier for you to follow and understand the writing when you begin reading. 
[substeps] Just make sure that you do not substitute summaries for reading the actual text. Remember that a summary is someone else's interpretation of what happened.