"How to Read Literature like a Professor" Study Guide

(26) How can you tell if something is ironic?

"Just listen."

(2) What does a failed meal suggest in literature?

In literature, a failed meal suggests bad things for community and understanding, creating a sense of tension and/or conflict between characters.

(21) How can landscapes be "marked" as well? What might it mean?

"Marked" landscapes can have a physical or spiritual role.

- (Intro) What is a "Faustian bargain"? - (Intro) Where did that phrase originate?

- A "faustian bargain" is a deal with the devil in which the hero is offered something he desperately wants in exchange for his soul. - This phrase originated from variations of the Faust legend.

(23) What are some of the symbolic possibilities associated with the heart?

- Aside from being the pump that keeps us alive, the heart is also, and has been since ancient times, the symbolic repository for emotion.

(19) How can geography be character?

- Geography can be character by giving insight with descriptions. - Characters travel to places that reflect their own hearts and minds.

(19) How can geography be character?

- Geography can be character by giving insight with descriptions. Character travel to places that reflect their own hearts and minds.

(19) What are some patterns of symbolism with regard to geography?

- Going south symbolizes freedom or "run amok." - High places can represent purity, isolation, life or death, while low places are often associated with people, crowds, dirtiness, and also life or death.

(25) Why did I italicize "your" in the chapter title, above?

- In order to properly analyze/understand literature you must read through the eyes of the characters and the time that the story takes place in. - In other words, you should not read only from your own particular historical, cultural, and individual perspective.

(26) What does Foster mean when he says, "Irony trumps everything"?

- In other words, every chapter in this book goes out the window when irony comes in the door. - Irony greatly expands the range of interpretations that can be applied to any symbol.

(21) What might physical marks or imperfections symbolize?

- Physical marks or imperfections reveal information about their characters' pasts. - When groups of characters all have scars, this can convey a message about how people have suffered within a large-scale event or era.

(10) What are some of the common "meanings" of various types of weather?

- Rain is used to demonstrate atmosphere, symbolic representation, and plot development (democratic element). - Rainbows symbolize ladders between heaven and earth. - Fog symbolizes confusion or murkiness. - Snow symbolizes cleanliness or dirtiness depending on the story.

(10) What are some of the common "meanings" of various types of weather?

- Rain is used to demonstrate atmosphere, symbolic representation, and plot development. - Rainbows symbolize ladders between heaven and earth. - Fog symbolizes confusion or murkiness. - Snow symbolizes cleanliness or dirtiness depending on the story.

(20) What are the symbolic implications of each major season: spring, summer, fall, winter?

- Spring represents birth/rebirth, innocence, or youth. - Summer represents contentment, passion, or adulthood. - Autumn represents harvest, aging, completion, or fatigue. - Winter represents barrenness, old age, or death.

(12) 1. What's the difference between symbolism and allegory?

- Symbolism refers to the use of symbols that are abstract and can have a range of meanings/interpretations, creating a 1:? ratio. - In comparison, an allegory uses symbols that can only stand for one thing, creating a 1:1 ratio.

(12) What's the difference between symbolism and allegory?

- Symbolism refers to the use of symbols that are abstract and can have a range of meanings/interpretations, creating a 1:? ratio. - In comparison, an allegory uses symbols that can only stand for one thing, creating a 1:1 ratio.

(11) What questions should a reader ask about the violence found in a piece of literature?

- What does this type of misfortune represent thematically? - What famous or mythic death does this one resemble? - Why this sort of violence and not some other?

(18) What does it mean when a character drowns?

- When a character drowns, it means a character has been "consumed" and was unable to overcome violence or guilt. - Dependent on the story, drowning could symbolize character revelation, thematic development of violence/failure/guilt, plot complication/denouncement.

(14) Why do writers use Christ figures?

-Writers use "Christ figures" in order to create a unique character type that engages their audiences by alluding to their previous knowledge/understanding of the Bible. - Writers also use "Christ figures" as signifiers of sacrifice, redemption, and hope.

(1) What five things does a quest consist of?

A quest consists of a quester, a place to go, a state reason to go there, challenges or trials en route, and a real reason to go.

(12) What impacts a readers' understanding of symbolic meaning?

A readers' understanding of symbolic meaning is impacted by their questions, experiences, and preexisting knowledge.

(4) Visually speaking, why is a sonnet roughly "square"?

A sonnet is roughly "square" in shape because it consists of 14 lines, each approximately 10 syllables.

(9) What does Foster mean by the term myth?

According to Foster, myth is a body of stories that matter to explain ourselves to ourselves.

(15) What is the symbolic deal with interrupted or failed flight?

An interrupted or failed flight would then be interpreted to represent ironic notions of unsuccessful freedom or imprisonment.

(13) In what ways do authors include social criticism in their writings?

Authors include social criticism in their writings by representing an underlying theme to convey their personal political views, demonstrating how characters fit within the society in which they live..

(13) What are some of the common "political" issues that writers tackle?

Common "political" issues that writers tackle include freedom and self-determination.

(2) What does "communion" mean?

Communion refers to a time when people eat or drink together, creating a temporary community.

(22) How are darkness and lightness related to sight?

Darkness symbolizes blindness and lightness symbolizes sight.

(15) In what ways might flight be symbolic in literature?

Flight is symbolic in literature of freedom from the specific circumstances and more general burdens that tie us down.

(1) What is Foster's overall point about journeys or trips in literature?

Foster claims that the overall point about journeys or trips in literature is to engage the reader, assessing the work for an adventure that promotes character growth.

(Interlude) What does Foster mean when he says "there's only one story"?

Foster means that all stories intersect and echo one another, causing the accumulation of significance built up from prior texts which use recognizable patterns and tendencies.

(5) What does Foster mean when he says that "there's no such thing as a wholly original work of literature"?

Foster means that literature grows out of literature, crossing boundaries of genre and time/place or intertextuality.

(2) For what reason does Foster suggest that authors often include meal scenes?

Foster suggests that authors often include meal scenes in order to demonstrate relationships between characters, creating a bond/trust or not.

(25) What is Foster's main point in this chapter?

Foster's main point is that you have to place yourself in the setting of the story in order to fully understand/appreciate it.

(19) How can geography define/develop character?

Geography can define/develop a character by expressing their emotions, views, or experiences.

(19) How can geography play an important plot role?

Geography can play an important plot role because it sets up the environment of the story.

(19) How can geography reinforce theme?

Geography reinforces theme by demonstrating relationships between characters and highlighting symbols within the plot.

(7) What's the benefit of knowing/understanding Bible allusions in literature?

Having prior knowledge or understanding of the Bible allows the reader to find deeper meanings in a piece of literature. Reminder of recurrent plots and themes inspired by the Bible.

(23) Why?

Heart disease symbolizes all kinds of suffering: loneliness, cruelty, cowardice, and so on.

(18) When and how is water symbolic of baptism in literature?

If a character falls (or otherwise gets drenched) in water before reemerging, this constitutes a kind of rebirth or baptism.

(21) Beyond the individual, what can imperfection or deformity indicate?

Imperfections or deformities can foreshadow events or tell us about the past.

(21) Beyond the individual, what can imperfection or deformity indicate?

Imperfections or deformity's can foreshadow events or tell us about the past.

(5) What does Foster mean by the term intertextuality?

Intertextuality is the ongoing interaction between poems or stories, deepening and enriching the reading experience.

(3) What is literal vampirism?

Literal vampirism involves a nasty old man, attractive but evil, violates young women, leaves his mark on them, steals their innocence--and coincidentally their "usefulness" to young men--and leaves them helpless followers of his sin.

(Intro) What are the three items that separate the professorial reader from the rest of the crowd?

Memory, symbol, and pattern are the three items that separate the professional reader from the rest of the crowd.

(14) Does a character need to resemble Christ in all ways to be considered a "Christ figure"?

No literary figure can ever be as pure, as perfect, as divine as Jesus Christ, possessing instead a strange combination of Christ's qualities.

(25) Do we have to accept the values of another culture to accept the impact those values had on the writing?

No?

(26) What does Foster mean when he says, "Irony doesn't work for everyone"?

Readers who perceive what they read in only one way may not be capable of detecting the irony in what they are reading.

(4) How can recognizing that a poem is a sonnet help us understand the poem's meaning?

Recognizing that a poem is a sonnet helps us interpret its meaning by understanding the time and effort it took the author to condense the information presented in only 14 lines, 10 syllables each.

(16) Why does sexual symbolism exist/occur in literature?

Sexual symbolism exists in literature because they were not allowed to explicitly write about it, forcing them to do so discreetly.

(6) What are some of the ways that Shakespeare influences writers?

Shakespeare provides a figure against whom writers can struggle, providing a source of texts against which other texts can bounce ideas.

(15) Why do so many writers "toy with flight" in their works?

So many writers "toy with flight" in their works because humans cannot fly, causing writers to become creative and toy with the concept of flight to engage their audiences.

(14) What are the characteristics of a "Christ figure"?

Some characteristics of a "Christ figure" include being forgiving and self-sacrificing, historical details such as the fact that he was a carpenter, and the miracles he is thought to have performed, such as walking on water.

(16) What are some of the things that symbolize sex and/or gender?

Some things that symbolize sex/gender include tall buildings, rolling landscapes, stairs, key/bowl.

(3) What is symbolic vampirism?

Symbolic vampirism occurs when people act toward their fellows in exploitative and selfish ways while placing their desires, particularly the uglier ones, above the needs of another.

(27) Foster says it's OK that this book doesn't include every possible symbol. What reason does he give for it being OK?

Symbols are up for interpretation.

(12) What, besides objects, can be symbolic?

Symbols can also be images, actions, and events.

(3) What are the "essentials of the vampire story" and what do they represent?

The "essentials of the vampire story" include an older figure representing corrupt, outworn values; a young, preferably virginal female; a stripping away of her youth, energy, virtue; a continuance of the life force of the old male; the death or destruction of the young woman.

(Intro) What does Foster mean by the phrase "language of reading"?

The "language of reading" is a method of talking about literature in an analytical manner using a set of conventions, patterns, codes, and rules.

(24) What things make a "prime literary disease"?

The "prime literary disease" is picturesque, mysterious in origin, and has symbolic reason.

(7) Why is the Bible so often alluded to in literature?

The Bible is so often alluded to in literature because biblical references are broadly understood/recognized, representing non-sectarian themes.

(22) What is often the irony behind a blind character?

The common irony behind a blind character is that, despite their inability to see, they are capable of "seeing" things that other characters cannot.

(5) What is the benefit, or value, of picking up on the parallels between works of literature?

The more we become aware of the possibility that our text is speaking to other texts, the more similarities and correspondences we begin to notice, and the more alive/engaging the text becomes.

(1) What is the real reason for a quest (always)?

The real reason for a quest is always self-discovery or knowledge.

(20) What is the symbolic implication of the progression of season (from spring through winter)?

The symbolic implication of the progression of season is the circle of life (from birth through death).

(21) What are some of the symbolic indications of monsters in literature?

The symbolic indication of monsters include extreme physical markings or imperfections.

(Intro) How does a literature professor read differently from a lay reader?

The three key elements of reading that separate a professor from a lay reader include memory, symbol, and pattern. In comparison, a lay reader simply focuses on the plot, story, and characters.

(11) Why does violence occur in literature?

Violence occurs in literature to make action, cause/end plot complications, or put stress on other characters.

(10) How can weather serve as a plot device in literature?

Weather can be a plot device because it forces characters into acts and situations they might not have willingly chosen themselves.

(10) How can weather be symbolic in literature?

Weather can be symbolic in literature to evoke a specific emotion.

(17) When writers write directly about sex, what are they really writing about?

When writers write directly about sex, they are really writing about freedom, sacrifice, domination/submission, birth, pleasure, espionage, desire, or enlightenment.

(8) What are some of the ways writers allude to "kiddie lit" in their writings?

Writers allude to "kiddie lit" in their writings by adding depth and texture to their story, to bring out a theme, to lend irony to a statement, and to play with readers' deeply ingrained knowledge of fairy tales.

(6) Why do so many writers allude to Shakespeare?

Writers allude to Shakespeare because his work is recognizable, demonstrates a high level of education, improved literary authority, and increases reader understanding/engagement.

(9) Why do writers allude to mythology?

Writers allude to mythology in order to connect with readers, make stories recognizable, and to represent new versions of these classic tales.

(9) What are some of the ways that writers allude to mythology?

Writers allude to mythology using parallelism or irony.

(7) What are some of the ways that writers allude to the Bible?

Writers allude to the Bible through the plot, title, motifs, characters, and themes.

(8) Why do writers borrow from "kiddie lit" in their works?

Writers borrow from "kiddie lit" in their works to make use of our knowledge of fairy tales by employing signs we'll recognize as standing for the parts we're familiar with.

(Interlude) What are the reasons Foster provides that lead him to believe that most writers do not accidentally create the symbols, allusions, and patterns we find when we read critically?

Writers critically consider the use of symbols, allusions, or patterns to progress a plot.

(Interlude) What are the reasons Foster provides that lead him to believe that most writers do not accidentally create the symbols, allusions, and patterns we find when we read critically?

Writers do not used symbols, allusions, or patterns.

(17) Why don't writers usually write actual sex scenes?

Writers usually do not write actual sex scenes because they are boring and do not rapidly progress the plot.

(13) Why do authors include social criticism in their writings?

Writing that engages the realities of its world can be not only interesting but hugely compelling.