Interpreting a text

In my opinion, when I interpret a text I like to attempt to understand it on my own and then try to aquire some outside source such as a biography about it or a different type of criticism. I do want to be origianl and have my own ideas of it, but it is important to also acknowledge diverse opinions and interpretations of such text to see how many have the same interpretation or have a different interpretation that you never even thought of. It also helps if perhaps you have a vague idea of the text or none at all, to get some history on it. When you look for more sources for a certain text you gain more knowledge because you have aquired not only your own interpretation but ideas that others have validly pointed out.