Reading: Reading for Inference & Implied Meaning
B2 Lesson 2: Inferring Characters' Feelings, Motives, and Relationships
Reading People, Not Just Words
In well-written fiction, authors don't tell you everything. They don't write, "She was angry." Instead, they show you she is angry through her actions and words. As a B2 reader, your job is to be a detective of human nature.
Today, we will practice reading "between the lines" to infer1 a character's true feelings2, their motives3 (why they do things), and the nature of their relationships4 with others.
How to Infer Character Details
- To Infer Feelings: Pay attention to body language (e.g., folded arms, a forced smile), descriptions (e.g., her voice was cold), and actions.
- To Infer Motives: Ask yourself, "Why did the character say or do that?" Look at the situation and what the character might want to achieve.
- To Infer Relationships: Observe how characters speak to each other. Is the language formal or informal? Friendly or tense? Supportive or competitive?
Practice Narrative: "The New Guesthouse"
Let's read this short story about two guesthouse owners in Kampot. Pay close attention to the subtext5—the unspoken feelings and tensions.
Vanna stared across the street at the new building. It was a modern, three-story guesthouse with bright lights and a fancy sign, "The River Palace." Her own guesthouse, a small, traditional wooden house she had inherited from her grandmother, suddenly felt small and old. She had worked so hard to maintain it, but she saw more and more tourists walking into the new place instead of hers.
Later that day, the owner of The River Palace, a young man named Rithy, walked over. "Good afternoon!" he said with a wide, confident smile. "It's a great day for business, isn't it?"
Vanna forced a tight smile. "For some, perhaps," she replied, her eyes briefly flicking towards his full car park. She folded her arms across her chest. "My grandmother always said that quality is more important than size."
Rithy's smile faltered for a moment. "Of course," he said, his tone suddenly more formal. "Your guesthouse is famous for its history. I was just hoping we could be friendly neighbors."
Let's analyze the implied meanings:
- Vanna's Feelings: The text doesn't say "Vanna was jealous," but we can infer it.
Clues: She "stared," her place "felt small and old," she "forced a tight smile," and "folded her arms."
Inference: She feels worried, intimidated, and resentful of her new, successful competitor. - Rithy's Motive: Why did he approach Vanna?
Clues: "Good afternoon!", "wide, confident smile," "hoping we could be friendly neighbors."
Inference: His motive seems genuinely friendly; he wants to introduce himself and establish a positive relationship. - Their Relationship:
Clues: Vanna's defensive and slightly passive-aggressive comment ("quality is more important than size"). Rithy's smile "faltered" and his tone became "more formal."
Inference: The relationship is not friendly. It is tense and competitive. They are business rivals.
Your Turn to Analyze!
Practice Quiz
Read the short text and answer the questions.
"Sokha looked at the broken vase on the floor and then at his little sister, Mara, who was trying to hide behind a curtain. 'I didn't do it,' Mara whispered, not making eye contact. Sokha sighed, knelt down, and began picking up the larger pieces. 'It's okay,' he said softly. 'Don't worry, I won't tell Mom. Let's just clean this up before she gets home.'"
1. What can you infer about the relationship between Sokha and Mara?
- A. They do not like each other.
- B. Sokha is protective of his little sister.
- C. Sokha is angry at his little sister.
Answer: B. His actions (cleaning up) and words ("It's okay," "I won't tell Mom") show that he is protecting her from getting in trouble.
2. What is Sokha's main motive for cleaning up the vase?
- A. To prevent his sister from being punished.
- B. Because he is afraid of his mother.
- C. Because he broke the vase himself.
Answer: A. While he might also be slightly afraid of his mother's reaction, his primary motivation, based on his comforting words to his sister, is to protect her. The text implies Mara broke it.
Vocabulary Glossary
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Infer (verb)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ទាញសេចក្តីសន្និដ្ឋាន
To deduce or conclude information from evidence and reasoning rather than from direct statements. ↩ back to text -
Feelings (noun)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: អារម្មណ៍
A character's internal emotional state (e.g., happiness, anger, jealousy, anxiety). ↩ back to text -
Motives (noun)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ចេតនា
The reasons behind a character's actions; what the character wants. ↩ back to text -
Relationships (noun)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ទំនាក់ទំនង
The way in which characters are connected (e.g., as friends, rivals, family) and behave towards each other. ↩ back to text -
Subtext (noun)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: អត្ថបទរង (ប្រធានបទ ឬអត្ថន័យដែលមិនអាចនិយាយបាននៅក្នុងអត្ថបទ ឬការសន្ទនា។)
The underlying, unspoken theme or meaning in a piece of writing or a conversation. ↩ back to text
Homework Task
Be a Character Analyst!
Watch a short (2-3 minute) scene with dialogue between two people from an English-language movie or TV show.
- In one sentence, describe the relationship between the two characters. (Are they friends, enemies, family?)
- Describe the primary feeling of one character during the scene. (Are they happy, angry, sad, nervous?)
- What clues (their words, tone of voice, body language) helped you make these inferences?