Final answer:
Understanding the plot is crucial before interpreting a story's meaning, as it gives a foundational understanding essential for literary analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
It's important to understand the plot before you infer or interpret meaning in a story. The plot is the sequence of events that make up the story in a book, poem, or play. Before delving into deeper analysis such as themes, motives, or diction, one must first have a good grasp of the plot, as it provides the necessary context for more complex interpretations. Grasping the plot is akin to seeing the whole picture before assembling the puzzle pieces of literary analysis. It's essential to become familiar with the text as a whole and to consider what aspects are interesting or important, in order to develop a well-supported interpretation.
Keep in mind that characters and events in the story are tools that authors use to illustrate issues, and through them, stories can present different sides of a problem, raising questions that require careful thinking to interpret. While interpretations of literature can be subjective, they should be backed by the text, which may involve quoting passages and effectively explaining them to clarify the reasoning behind your interpretation. Moreover, understanding that plot is different from the theme is crucial; the former is about what happens, whereas the latter conveys the meaning or message behind the events of the story.