The article aims at presenting the experience of working with the prototype while analyzing and interpreting the artistic features of a literary work in the didactic aspect. Some pre-reading tasks are suggested, as well as a system of questions and assignments used during the reading stage. We have chosen Evdokia’s life and the play “Seven Saints from the Village Bryuho” by Lyudmila Ulitskaya as the didactic materials. The recommended procedure is based on the common didactic strategies used to develop not only independent critical thinking competences, but also the competences of comprehensive and adequate interpretation of the literary works.