How to Summarize a Story

When summarizing a story, it's crucial to write in a concise, engaging way that stays on point. Fortunately, this task is not as difficult as it may seem, as long as you follow a few key guidelines.

Read the story. It's almost impossible to summarize a story if you haven't actually read it. So, open the pages of the book or plug in your headphones to listen to the story on your iPod. Don’t rely too much on websites that provide summaries, as they aren’t always accurate.

• While reading, focus on the central idea of the story. For example, in The Lord of the Rings, the central theme is that greed (symbolized by the ring) is the force of evil, or that the actions of even the smallest individual (like a hobbit) can change the world.
• Give your full attention to the book. Don’t let distractions, including music, take you away from it.

Take notes. You’ll need to make notes while reading the story so you can refer back to them when you start writing the summary. Try to answer the questions 'Who? What? When? Where? Why?' These will form the foundation of your summary.

Identify the main characters. You need to know which characters are central to the story and which are less significant. If a story has too many characters, you won’t want to list them all.

• For example, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, you would note Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger as the main characters. You might also mention names like Hagrid, Dumbledore, Snape, Quirrell, and Voldemort, as they play important roles.
• You don't need to write about Peeves the Poltergeist or Norbert the Dragon, as although they are significant to the story, they don’t impact the main plot and don't need to be mentioned in the summary.
• Short stories like Little Red Riding Hood are simpler, as you only need to note Little Red Riding Hood, her grandmother, the wolf, and the hunter (depending on the version).

Pay attention to the setting. The setting is where the story takes place. This can get complex if the story occurs in multiple locations. In this case, you’ll need to expand your description.

• Continuing with the Harry Potter example: the main action takes place at Hogwarts, so you might write 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the United Kingdom.'
• For a story like The Lord of the Rings, which spans many locations, you can mention Middle-earth, adding important places like the Shire, Mordor, and Gondor. You don’t need to get too specific (for example, you don’t need to mention Fangorn Forest or Minas Morgul).

Note the story's conflict. The conflict is the central struggle or obstacle that the characters must overcome. It doesn’t have to be as intense as in Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings.

• In Harry Potter, the main conflict is Voldemort's plot to steal the Philosopher's Stone and return to threaten the Wizarding World (and kill Harry).
• For example, in summarizing the epic Odyssey, the primary conflict is Odysseus' journey back to his homeland, Ithaca. Every event in the story is driven by Odysseus' longing to return home and the obstacles that block his way.

Record the key events. These are the most crucial parts of the story. You don’t need to write down every little action of the characters. In fact, that’s what you should avoid! Look for events that heighten the conflict or help resolve the main issue.

• In Harry Potter, some key events would be Harry discovering he’s a wizard, encountering the three-headed dog, and, of course, Harry, Ron, and Hermione defeating Voldemort.
• A short story like Little Red Riding Hood is easier to summarize, but you should still focus on the most important events, such as Little Red Riding Hood meeting the wolf, being eaten when she mistakes the wolf for her grandmother, and the hunter’s rescue.

Focus on the story's conclusion. This is usually the most important event, resolving the conflict and wrapping up the story's main issue. Even a book in a series will have some sort of resolution. Be cautious of spoilers below!

• The conclusion of Harry Potter is the defeat of Voldemort. The events that follow are not essential to the summary, even though they may be significant to the overall story. You don't need to dive into the conversation between Dumbledore and Harry at the end or mention Gryffindor’s victory, as they are not directly related to Voldemort’s defeat.
• In Little Red Riding Hood, the conclusion is marked by the hunter's appearance, saving Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother.
• For a work like The Lord of the Rings, summarizing the conclusion can be tricky. While you may want to end with the destruction of the ring, you must also mention the cleansing of the Shire or Frodo's departure from Grey Havens, especially if the key theme focuses on the significance of the deeds of a seemingly insignificant person.

Organize your notes. Now that the hardest part – reading the book – is complete, you can begin writing your summary. The next step is to arrange your notes in chronological order. Identify the beginning and end of the story, as well as the journey of the main character from start to finish.

• Continuing with Harry Potter, look at the events Harry goes through, from discovering he's a wizard to the final battle with Voldemort.
• For a work like Odyssey, follow Odysseus from the loss of his crew to his arrival on Calypso's island, and then track his journey as he overcomes the suitors and convinces Penelope that he is truly her long-lost husband.
• In a short fairy tale like Little Red Riding Hood, focus on why she entered the woods, how the wolf tricked and swallowed her, and how she was ultimately saved.

Write the summary. Now the work becomes easier since you’ve organized all your notes. All you need to do is write a brief paragraph covering the main points of Who? What? When? Where? Why? that appear in your notes. Remember to mention the title of the story and the author's name.

• Make sure to focus solely on the main plot. Avoid straying into scenes like Harry playing Quidditch or his rivalry with Malfoy.
• Similarly, don’t include direct quotes from the book. You don’t need to repeat any dialogue in the summary. However, you may briefly touch on key moments in conversations (for instance, “When Harry and his friends were warned by Hagrid that the Philosopher’s Stone might no longer be safe, they went to stop the thief.”)

Read through some plot summaries. Your writing will become much easier if you review examples and learn how to condense multiple elements into a short, clear paragraph.

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling tells the story of an eleven-year-old orphan, Harry Potter, who discovers he's a wizard and attends a magical school, Hogwarts, in England. Here, Harry learns that his parents were killed by an evil wizard, Voldemort, who lost his power when Harry was just a baby. Alongside his friends Ron Weasley, who comes from a large wizarding family, and Hermione Granger, the brightest witch at school, Harry uncovers the secret of the Philosopher's Stone, which grants immortality. When Hagrid informs Harry and his friends that the stone is no longer safe, they rush to stop a thief they believe to be Professor Snape, who has a dislike for Harry. However, Harry soon discovers that the thief is actually Professor Quirrell, a servant of Voldemort. Thanks to his mother's protective curse, Harry defeats Quirrell, forcing Voldemort to retreat.
• The epic Odyssey by Homer narrates the adventures of Odysseus, a Greek hero on a ten-year journey to return to his home on the island of Ithaca, where his wife Penelope and son Telemachus await him. The story begins with Odysseus being trapped by the goddess Calypso, until the gods force her to release him. Angered by the blinding of his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus, Poseidon attempts to sink Odysseus's ship but is thwarted by Athena. Eventually, Odysseus reaches the land of the Phaeacians, where he recounts his adventures, including encounters with the Lotus-Eaters, the blinding of Polyphemus, his affair with the sorceress Circe, deadly sirens, a descent into Hades, and his battle with the sea monster Scylla. The Phaeacians safely return him to Ithaca, where he is believed to be dead. There, suitors have taken over his palace and plan to kill his son. Believing Odysseus is still alive, Penelope refuses to choose among them and challenges the suitors to string Odysseus's bow. When Odysseus successfully strings the bow, he kills the suitors and reunites with his family.
• These summaries cover the main plot points, using phrases like 'When Harry finds the stone...' rather than going into detail about how the stone is found, which is not the crucial element of a summary. The focus is on the key characters, such as Odysseus, Penelope, and the gods.

Review your summary. Remember to edit your summary to fix spelling mistakes, ensure events are in the correct order, and check that the names of characters and places are spelled correctly. It’s a good idea to ask a friend to read it over and catch any mistakes you may have missed. Once you've reviewed it, your summary will be complete!

• If you're writing an essay, don't just summarize the work!
• Don't include your personal opinions in the summary unless your teacher specifically asks for them.