How to Read Literature Like a Professor (Revised Edition) by Thomas C. Foster

He's Blind for a Reason, You Know : Explain the significance of a blind character in literature.

"Every move, every statement by or about that character has to accommodate the lack of sight; every other character has to notice, to behave differently, if only in subtle ways" (Foster 210).

It's All Political : Foster says, "Writing that engages the realities of its world—that thinks about human problems...can be not only interesting but hugely compelling". Explain what he means by "human problems."

"Human problems" include universal issues relating to society and the treatment of power, and by extension deals with some political issues.

Is He Serious? And Other Ironies : What is Foster's bolded catchphrase from this chapter?

"Irony trumps everything."

It's All About Sex : What does Foster say about sex in literature, in general?

"Sex doesn't have to look like sex," meaning that many nonsexual scenes or objects have a sexual meaning behind them.

Geography Matters... : According to Foster, whenever a person proposes that we take a trip somewhere, what is the first question that will always be the reply?

"Where?"

It's My Symbol and I'll Cry If I Want To : What is Foster's advice to students who don't think they have read enough to understand literature?

"You know more than you think you do"

It's More Than Just Rain or Snow : What is the universally symbolic meaning of the rainbow?

"to symbolize divine promise, peace between heaven and earth"

Never Stand Next to the Hero : Why must some be flat or static?

1) Too many details can be distracting for character purposes; 4) books would get too long.

Never Stand Next to the Hero : Why can't all literary characters be round and dynamic?

1) We need to know which character to focus on; 2) thinking of full backstories for every minor character would be too much work

It's All About Sex : In Ann Beatty's story "Janus," Foster provides an example of a sexual symbol present in a very nonsexual object. What is that object?

A bowl

It's Never Just Heart Disease...And Rarely Just Illness : What illness is best when a communal disease is needed, in order to bring widespread destruction and present a strong conflict that must be overcome?

A plague

Is That a Symbol? : Explain the difference between symbol and allegory.

An allegory only has one symbolic meaning, and understanding that is essential to a text's success. Ex. Animal Farm

...Except Sex : Which author wrote many sexual stories, but disapproved of strong language and was "almost prudish in some ways on the subject of promiscuity?"

D. H. Lawrence

It's All About Sex : Foster conjectures some reasons why overt scenes of sexuality are not depicted in novels. Why would someone like Charles Dickens avoid any sensual material?

Dickens knew that many of his stories were read aloud as a family, often to children.

What is the What natural element would be used to establish a state of confusion in a text?

Fog

Geography Matters... : Explain what Foster means when he says that geography goes beyond setting.

Foster says, "Geography is setting, but it's also (or can be) psychology, attitude, finance, industry—anything that place can forge in the people who live there. Geography in literature can also be more. It can be revelatory of virtually any element in the work. It can build characterization, even be a character, and play a pivotal role in the success of function of a plot.

Now, Where have I seen her before? : Foster makes a claim that is slightly controversial about stories in general. What is it?

Foster says, "THERE'S ONLY ONE STORY." He explains that all stories are influenced by tales and myths that make up our cultural identity, so a truly original story is impossible.

...Except Sex : In chapter 16, Foster said, "Sex doesn't have to look like sex." What is the converse principle of that, which is the foundation of chapter 17?

Generally, he says that sex scenes are usually about something else.

Nice to Eat You : Other than vampires, what other supernatural character does Foster discuss as frequently symbolized in literature?

Ghosts

Don't Read with Your Eyes : In the mind of an ancient Greek, what does the character Achilles teach the reader or audience?

He is devoted to Patroclus and treats him like a brother. The reader learns that while he is a conquering soldier, he has too much pride, which leads to his downfall.

If She Comes Up, It's Baptism : What does Foster say about the meaning behind a character that is submerged in water that does not come out?

He says in cases of drownings there are many different purposes. On page 169 he says, "The rebirths/baptisms have a lot of common threads, but every drowning is serving its own purpose: character revelation, thematic development of violence or failure or guilt, plot compilation or denouement."

...Except Sex : What does Foster say about the actual process of writing a sexual scene, particularly when it comes to the author's comfort level?

He says it "is very nearly the least rewarding enterprise a writer can undertake".

Nice to Eat with You : Explain Foster's justification for saying all acts of characters having meals together are communion.

He says that "we are particular about those with whom we break bread" suggesting that characters who share a meal only do so with people they are comfortable with, or to break down barriers, and advance the relationship.

It's Greek to Me : Which Greek author do modern writers often borrow from?

Homer

...So Does Season : Explain what Foster means when he says that it makes more sense for Christmas to be in mid-winter, rather than in the summer

It is more appropriate to have it occur on one of the shortest days of the year while the weather is typically growing cold and bleak.

...Except Sex : Which novel has become so associated with sex that it often gets substituted in the titles of pornographic films?

Lolita

...More Than It's Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence : The title of Robert Frost's poem, "Out, Out—" is a reference to what older violent work?

Macbeth

It's More Than Just Rain or Snow : According to Foster, our universal fear of drowning relates back to what ancient event?

Noah's flood

...Except Sex : Foster says, "If they write about sex and mean strictly sex, we have a word for that." What is that word?

Pornography

It's More Than Just Rain or Snow : Explain how rain is a "democratic element" (according to Foster)?

Rain falls on everyone.

It's All About Sex : Who does Foster blame for causing literary theorists, and by extension literature teachers and professors, to find sex in so many stories that are not obviously sexual?

Sigmund Freud

Don't Read with Your Eyes : Explain what Foster means when he says, "Don't read with your eyes."

Some stories need to be understood in their cultural or historical context. If we read everything as a modern citizen of our own culture, the writer's true meanings and intentions may be lost.

When In Doubt, It's From Shakespeare : By what title does Foster, and many other writers, refer to Shakespeare?

The Bard

It's All About Sex : What was the Hayes Code?

The Hayes Code was a censorship system which regulated sexual content in television and films from 1935 until 1965.

Yes, She's a Christ Figure, Too : What Hemingway text does Foster use to demonstrate a Christ figure?

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Nice to Eat with You : Furthering the Act of Communion rule, what would a writer do when a meal is prepared but an unwelcome or unpleasant "interloper" arrives?

The meal would not continue. "They place their napkins on their plates, or say something about losing their appetite, or simply get up and walk away."

It's Greek to Me : What universal themes are present in stories like The Odyssey, Oedipus the King, and other ancient myths and stories?

The need to protect one's family: Hector. The need to maintain one's dignity: Achilles. The determination to remain faithful and to have faith: Penelope. The struggle to return home: Odysseus.

If She Comes Up, It's Baptism : What is necessary in a scene involving a character and water to make it a symbol for baptism?

The process must be transformational, meaning the character must undergo a change in character.

It's More Than Just Rain or Snow : Explain how rain is clean or cleansing?

The rain can clean a dirty character by washing away dirt and mud, or it can be associated with spring as a time of cleansing or restoration.

Nice to Eat You : Essentially, in literature what does a "vampire" figure do to other characters?

The vampire takes someone else's will to live or energy to continue in order to make themselves more powerful. To quote from Foster, we are vampires when we are "using other people to get what we want. Denying someone else's right to live in the face of our own overwhelming demands."

Nice to Eat with You : According to Foster, why would a writer include a detailed description of a meal, such as the one included from James Joyce's "The Dead"?

The writer is trying to help the reader visualize the meal so the communion will be made clear, or so they can even picture themselves taking part in it with the characters. ("His main goal...is to draw us into that moment, to pull our chairs up to that table so that we are utterly convinced of the reality of the meal.")

Now, Where have I seen her before? : Foster compares mushrooms he finds on hunts with his father to literary allegories or references to other literary works. Many students don't recognize literary patterns or similar character types on their own, but literature professors are meant to show them how to find them. What happens as a students reads more and understands literature better?

Then they will hopefully start spotting references and allegories by themselves.

...So Does Season : Frankenstein's physical ugliness reflects our own ugliness and capability for evil. How is this the opposite of characters like Quasimodo from the Beast from "Beauty and the Beast?"

They have inner beauty, but many cannot see it because of their hideous appearance.

...More Than It's Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence : Explain Narrative violence

This refers to injuries inflicted from one character on another. Blame can be cast on a particular character.

...More Than It's Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence : Explain Authorial violence

This refers to injuries or death included to advance plot or develop theme, where a character is not responsible, the author is.

When In Doubt, It's From Shakespeare : What is the technique of writers borrowing or referencing from earlier works called?

This technique is called intertextuality.

Nice to Eat You : Many of Foster's examples of vampire characters came from what literary time period?

Victorian

Every Trip is a Quest : What are the five elements of a quest?

a) A quester b) A place to go c) A stated reason to go there d) Challenges and trials en route e) A real reason to go there

Flights of Fancy : Ironically, while we are thrilled by the idea of falling, what does Foster say is something related to flying that frightens us?

falling

Flights of Fancy : In this chapter, Foster says "flight is ____________________________."

freedom

...So Does Season : What is autumn typically associate with on a symbolic level?

harvest, where one sees the results of his endeavors and finds success or failure. It is both fulfillment and fatigue, as it represents the closing of life, as one moves toward middle age and beyond

Is He Serious? And Other Ironies : Situational Irony

is when an event "upends" our expectations by doing the opposite. In this case the reader is the one in whom the meaning eludes, until the end of the story

...So Does Season : What is winter typically associate with on a symbolic level?

lack of vitality and correlates with coldness and negative feelings, or a barren lack of life, metaphorical for very old age and death

Is He Serious? And Other Ironies : Dramatic irony

occurs when the audience or reader knows something that a character doesn't, adding to the tension or humor of the situation

...So Does Season : What is summer typically associate with on a symbolic level?

passion and fulfillment, in the metaphor of life it would be adulthood

...So Does Season : What is spring typically associate with on a symbolic level?

rebirth and renewal, in the metaphor of life it would be birth and childhood, full of innocence and growth

It's Never Just Heart Disease...And Rarely Just Illness : Explain why Foster says a character suffering from heart disease is the perfect metaphorical device?

represents the center of emotion

Is He Serious? And Other Ironies : Verbal Irony

when a character says something but means something else. It works when that person doesn't understand the second meaning

It's Greek to Me : Homer gives us four great struggles of the human being:

with nature, with the divine, with other humans, and with ourselves