本书分两大部分。第一部分以通俗易懂的英语介绍英语文学阅读的基本技能和方法，帮助读者提高学习及欣赏英语文学作品的能力和水平。第二部分精选了十篇具有代表性的当代著名作家的短篇小说，每篇作品不但有作家介绍，而且提出一些问题引导读者思考、领悟、回味与交流。

Part One Skills Needed For Reading Literature
Unit 1 Identifying the Main Idea
Unit 2 Making Inferences
Unit 3 Getting Meaning from Context
Unit 4 Using Ideas in New Contexts
Unit 5 Style and Structure
Unit 6 Figurative Language
　Unit 7 Identifying Implications
　Unit 8 Identifying Cause & Effect
　Unit 9 Drawing Conclusions
　Unit 10 Identifying Assumptions
　Unit 11 Symbols"
　Unit 12 Similes & Metaphors
　Unit 13 Imagery
　Unit 14 Characterization
　Unit 15 Theme
　Keys to Exercises
Part Two Selected Short Stories
　A Rose for Emily William Faulkner
　The First Seven Years Bernard Maiamud
　Shot Actress—Full Story H.E.Bates
　Life of Ma Parker Katherine Mansfield
　A Message from the Pig-Man John Wain
　The Dry Rock Irwin Shaw
　Possessions George Ewart Evans
　The Raid John Steinbeck
　Late Night on Wading Street Bill Naughton
　Araby James Joyoe