Reading: infer a character's feelings

The idea

An inference is a sensible idea you work out from clues, rather than something the writer states outright. Writers rarely write 'he was nervous'. Instead they show you shaking hands, bitten nails or a pounding heart, and leave you to join the dots.

To answer an inference question, first decide what the clues suggest about the character's feelings. Then prove it: pick the exact action or detail from the text that gave you the idea.

A strong answer has two parts — the feeling, and the evidence. 'He felt nervous' on its own earns little; adding 'because he kept unfolding and refolding the letter' shows the examiner exactly how you know. If two feelings could both fit, pick the one that the strongest, clearest clue in the text supports best.

Worked example

Read this passage: 'Tom pressed his forehead to the cold bus window. For the tenth time, he unfolded the letter, read the first line, then folded it again along the same creases.' How might Tom be feeling? Give one clue from the passage.

1. Look for clues rather than a stated feeling: Tom repeats the same action again and again.
2. Repeating an action 'for the tenth time' suggests he cannot settle — a sign of worry or nerves.
3. Match the feeling to the evidence: anxious, supported by the repeated unfolding and refolding of the letter.

Answer: Tom is probably anxious or worried; he unfolds and refolds the same letter for the tenth time, which shows he cannot settle.

Watch out

• Giving a feeling with no evidence from the text to back it up.
• Retelling the passage without actually saying what the character feels.