How to Read Literature Like a Professor (PS-SQ)
3. What are the "essentials of the vampire story" and what do they represent?
"Older" figure, young female/innocent, continuance of life force
*Chapter 10: Never Stand Next To The Hero*
*Chapter 10: Never Stand Next To The Hero*
*Chapter 11: ...More Than It's Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence*
*Chapter 11: ...More Than It's Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence*
*Chapter 12: Is That a Symbol?*
*Chapter 12: Is That a Symbol?*
*Chapter 13: It's All Political*
*Chapter 13: It's All Political*
*Chapter 14: Yes, She's a Christ Figure, Too*
*Chapter 14: Yes, She's a Christ Figure, Too*
*Chapter 15: Flights of Fancy*
*Chapter 15: Flights of Fancy*
*Chapter 16: It's All About Sex...*
*Chapter 16: It's All About Sex...*
*Chapter 17: ...Except Sex*
*Chapter 17: ...Except Sex*
*Chapter 18: If She Comes Up, It's Baptism*
*Chapter 18: If She Comes Up, It's Baptism*
*Chapter 19: Geography Matters...*
*Chapter 19: Geography Matters...*
*Chapter 1: Every Trip is a Quest (Except When It's Not)*
*Chapter 1: Every Trip is a Quest (Except When It's Not)*
*Chapter 20: ...So Does Season*
*Chapter 20: ...So Does Season*
*Chapter 21: Marked for Greatness*
*Chapter 21: Marked for Greatness*
*Chapter 22: He's Blind for a Reason, You Know*
*Chapter 22: He's Blind for a Reason, You Know*
*Chapter 23: It's Never Just Heart Disease... And Rarely Just Illness*
*Chapter 23: It's Never Just Heart Disease... And Rarely Just Illness*
*Chapter 24: Don't Read with Your Eyes*
*Chapter 24: Don't Read with Your Eyes*
*Chapter 25: It's My Symbol and I'll Cry If I Want To*
*Chapter 25: It's My Symbol and I'll Cry If I Want To*
*Chapter 26: Is He Serious? And Other Ironies*
*Chapter 26: Is He Serious? And Other Ironies*
*Chapter 2: Nice to Eat With You: Acts of Communion*
*Chapter 2: Nice to Eat With You: Acts of Communion*
*Chapter 3: Nice to Eat You: Acts of Vampires*
*Chapter 3: Nice to Eat You: Acts of Vampires*
*Chapter 4: Now, Where Have I Seen Her Before?*
*Chapter 4: Now, Where Have I Seen Her Before?*
*Chapter 5: When in Doubt, It's from Shakespeare...*
*Chapter 5: When in Doubt, It's from Shakespeare...*
*Chapter 6:...Or the Bible*
*Chapter 6:...Or the Bible*
*Chapter 7: Hanseldee and Greteldum*
*Chapter 7: Hanseldee and Greteldum*
*Chapter 8: It's Greek to Me*
*Chapter 8: It's Greek to Me*
*Chapter 9: It's More Than Just Rain or Snow*
*Chapter 9: It's More Than Just Rain or Snow*
*Introduction*
*Introduction*
2. What things make a "prime literary disease"?
1. picturesque 2. mysterious orgin 3. symbolic reason
2. For what reason does Foster suggest that authors often include meal scenes?
Act of sharing and peace
3. What does a failed meal suggest in literature?
Bad sign
1. What does Foster mean by the term myth?
Body of a story that matters
2. What does Foster mean by the term intertextuality?
Borrowing from other works of literature
3. What are some of the ways that writers allude to mythology?
Components that parallel or represent a myth
1. Why do so many writers allude to Shakespeare?
Easy way to find good stories
1. Why is the Bible so often alluded to in literature?
Everyone knows Bible stories
3. What is Foster's overall point about journeys or trips in literature?
Everything is a quest
1. What does Foster mean when he says that "there's no such thing as a wholly original work of literature"?
Everything is inspired
2. How can you tell if something is ironic?
If you realize something didn't happen the way it was intended, you can consider it likely being ironic especially if the result is humorous or tragic
1. What does Foster mean when he says, "Irony trumps everything"?
Irony changes everything -> the reader can no longer trust their instincts on what they think is supposed to happen
3. What does Foster mean when he says, "Irony doesn't work for everyone"?
Irony only works if a reader can see if something is ironic or else the whole point of the writer making something ironic is pointless
2. How can weather serve as a plot device in literature?
It can be used to force two characters together
1. How can weather be symbolic in literature?
It could be shown as a new awakening (rain) or as a feeling of nothingness
2. What are some of the ways that Shakespeare influences writers?
It provides plot and language
3. Why do writers use Christ figures?
Jesus is iconic-> he has become a symbol
3. How does a literature professor read differently from a lay reader?
Memory, symbols, patterns
4. What are the three "items that... separate the professorial reader from the rest of the crowd"?
Memory, symbols, patterns
2. What are some of the ways that writers allude to the Bible?
Plot, titles, motifs, characters, themes
1. What five things does a quest consist of?
Quester, place to go, started reason, trials, real reason
3. What are some of the common "meanings" of various types of weather? Rain- Rainbow- Fog- Snow-
Rain- cleansing; spring; new awakening Rainbow- divine promise; peace between heaven and earth Fog- misery; ability to not see clearly Snow- a blanket of cleansing; cozy; nothingness
1. Why do writers borrow from "kiddie lit" in their works?
Readers can always relate
2. What is the real reason for a quest (always)?
Self knowledge
2. What are some of the ways writers allude to "kiddie lit" in their writings?
Small known details
2. Why do writers allude to mythology?
Stories are ingrained in society
3. What is the benefit, or value, of picking up on the parallels between works of literature?
Structure & meaning
1. What is the problem with being best pals with the hero?
The hero always needs to learn some kind of lesson through the death of another character
1. What is a "Faustian bargain"? Where did that phrase originate?
The hero is offered something he wants in exchange for his soul (deal with the devil); Dr Faustist
3. What are some of the conventional symbolic meanings of various illnesses?
Tuberculosis—a wasting disease Physical paralysis can mirror moral, social, spiritual, intellectual, political paralysis Malaria: means literally "bad air" with the attendant metaphorical possibilities.
1. What does "communion" mean?
Whenever people eat or drink together
3. What's the benefit of knowing/understanding Bible allusions in literature?
You can find the deeper meanings
2. In what ways do authors include social criticism in their writings?
an underlying theme to get at political views the author may have
Dramatic irony-
audience / reader knows more than the character knows
6. What does it mean when an author sends a character south?
bad stuffs, encounters with subconsiance
1. Why does violence occur in literature?
basis of plot, interested, plot complications
2. Why does sexual symbolism exist / occur in literature?
because they could not right about it
4. How should a reader approach symbolism in a text? What questions should the reader ask of the text when trying to determine symbolic meaning?
being aware, assumptions are good, recap/reread, remember
2. What impacts a readers' understanding of symbolic meaning?
better understanding
2. Why don't writers usually write actual sex scenes?
boring / more meaning
3. How can geography be character?
by giving insight with discribtions
4. How can geography play an important plot role?
by setting up an environment
1. What are some of the things that symbolize sex and / or gender?
chalice, swords, building, rolling hills
Verbal irony-
character says opposite of what is expected
2. What is the symbolic implication of the progression of season (from spring through winter)?
circle of life
3. How are darkness and lightness related to sight?
darkness- no truth lightness- truth
2. In what ways might flight be symbolic in literature?
escape from reality / freedom
4. What are some of the symbolic indications of monsters in literature?
extreme physical markings or imperfections
3. What is the symbolic deal with interrupted or failed flight?
fear failure / actually failure
3. Beyond the individual, what can imperfection or deformity indicate?
foreshadow setting event and tell about past
1. Foster writes "When they're writing about other things, they really mean sex, and when they write about sex, they really mean something else." What are some of the other things that this scene means?
freedom, sacrifice, domination / submission, birth, pleasure, espionage, enlightenment
7. How can a writer's personal geography inform his / her work?
geography surrounding the author effect his writing
3. What, besides objects, can be symbolic?
gesters, movements, emotions
5. What are some patterns of symbolism with regard to geography?
going south- bad fog- unknown dark- evil
1. What are the characteristics of a "Christ figure"?
good with children, self-serving
2. What does Foster mean by the phrase "language of reading"?
grammar
1. What are some of the symbolic possibilities associated with the heart? Why?
heart attacks or a broken heart
1. Why do so many writers "toy with flight" in their works?
it is a culture shared fantasy
4. What are the four reasons that authors kill of characters in literature?
make action, plot complications, end plot complications, put characters under stress
1. What's the difference between symbolism and allegory?
mean different thing / one thing
3. What questions should a reader ask about the violence found in a piece of literature?
misfortune represents famous / mythical resemble, why?
1. What can physical blindness mirror?
moral / intertextuality to love
1. What might physical marks or imperfections symbolize?
moral, psychological, emotional, and imperfections
1. What is literal vampirism?
nasty old man (steals innocence)
2. Does a character need to resemble Christ in all ways to be considered a "Christ figure"?
no
4. Does a character always have to actually fly in order for there to be "flying" in a piece of literature? Explain
no, they may love or imagine
2. How can landscapes be "marked" as well? What might it mean"
physical / spiritual setting have a role
1. Foster asserts that, "Nearly all writing is __________".
political
4. What are some of the common "political" issues that writers tackle?
problems government is facing
1. How can geography reinforce theme?
proving the proper tools for interactions with characters
2. What does it mean when a character drowns?
rebirth, revelation, violence / guilt, plot complication, being cleansed
Situational / Structural irony-
situation or event plays out in an opposite or abnormal way-not like expected
2. What are the two categories of violence in literature?
situational and authorial
2. Symbols do not mean the same thing for everyone, so how do you figure out symbolism?
some symbols are personal to a writer to readers can interpret what it means to them self
1. What are symbols and how do they form?
something with a second meaning
1. What are the symbolic implications of each major season: spring, summer, fall, winter?
spring- youth summer- adulthood fall- decline winter- death
1. When and how is water symbolic of baptism in literature?
start fresh and new
2. What is symbolic vampirism?
sucks life out of a person
2. How can geography define / develop character?
the characters views can change
2. What is often the irony behind a blind character?
they can see truth
1. Why did I italicize "your" in the chapter title, above"
to emphasize that you're supposed ot read through characters eyes
3. Why do authors include social criticism in their writings?
to oppress the government not publicly
2. What is Foster's main point in this chapter?
to put yourself in the story's setting
2. What purpose does the death of a friend serve?
to teach the hero a lesson they need to learn
3. Why are not all characters created equal?
too much time, too long of a book, might get the wrong idea of a character
4. There are three types of Irony in literature....
verbal, situational / structural, dramatic
3. Do we have to accept the values of another culture to accept the impact those values had on the writing"
yes
