who to read literature

1. What five things does a quest consist of

. A quester b. A place to go c. A stated reason to go there d. Challenges and trials

6. What are some of the ways that writers allude to the Bible

. Biblical names often draw a connection between literary character and Biblical character.

11. What are the two categories of violence in literature?

. Character caused . Death and suffering for which the characters are not responsible

8. What are some of the ways that writers allude to mythology?

. Odyssey and Iliad

9. How can weather serve as a plot device in literature?

. Rainbow—God's promise never to destroy the world again; hope; a promise of peace between heaven and earth vi. fog—almost always signals some sort of confusion; mental, ethical, physical "fog"; people can't see clearly

5 What are some of the ways that Shakespeare influences writers

. See plays as a pattern, either in plot or theme or both

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

. The real reason to go is never for the stated reason

12. What's the difference between symbolism and allegory? characters ebents and places have one on one correspondence,

. There is no one definite meaning except in allegory, where characters, events, places have a one-on-one correspondence symbolically to other things...Actions, as well as objects and images, can be symbolic

8. Why do writers allude to mythology?

. Why writers echo myth—because there's only one story

5 Why do so many writers allude to Shakespeare

. Writers use what is common in a culture as a kind of shorthand. Shakespeare is pervasive, so he is frequently echoed.

14

33 yrs old , unmarried, wounded or marked in the hands or feet, sacrificing you yourself in some way for others, in some sort of wilderness

2 What does a failed meal suggest in literature?

A failed meal carries negative connotations (a bad sign!)

2. For what reason does Foster suggest that authors often include meal scenes

An act of sharing and peace

6 Why is the Bible so often alluded to in literature?

Before the mid 20th century, writers could count on people being very familiar with Biblical stories, a common touchstone a writer can tap

6. What's the benefit of knowing/understanding Bible allusions in literature?

Common Biblical stories with symbolic implications

10 Why are not all characters created equal?

Flat Characters move the plot along and show change in the hero

12. How should a reader approach symbolism in a text? What questions should the reader ask of the text when trying to determine symbolic meaning?

How to figure it out? Symbols are built on associations readers have, but also on emotional reactions. Pay attention to how you feel about a text.

4 What is the benefit, or value, of picking up on the parallels between works of literature

If you don't recognize the correspondences, it's ok. If a story is no good, being based on Hamlet won't save it.

8 What does Foster mean by the term myth?

Myth is a body of story that matters—the patterns present in mythology run deeply in the human psyche

3 What is literal vampirism?

Nasty old man, attractive but evil, violates a young woman, leaves his mark, takes her innocence

12. What impacts a readers' understanding of symbolic meaning?

Symbols are built on associations readers have, but also on emotional reactions. Pay attention to how you feel about a text

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

The real reason is educational -- always self-knowledge

14. Why do writers use Christ figures?

Used to help compare characters to Christ. deepens our sense of a characters sacrifice

11 Why does violence occur in literature?

Violence can be symbolic, thematic, biblical, Shakespearean, Romantic, allegorical, transcendent

11. What questions should a reader ask about the violence found in a piece of literature

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

2 What does "communion" mean?

Whenever people eat or drink together

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

because it is a complete myth and wonder to man

12. What, besides objects, can be symbolic?

images, can be symbolic. i.e. "The Road Not Taken

11. What are the four reasons that authors kill off characters in literature?

is symbolic action

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

meaning of failed or interrupted flight is being put back

10 What purpose does the death of a friend serve?

o show change or rebirth

13. Foster asserts that, "Nearly all writing is

political

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

power sturctures issues of justice and rights, interactions between the sexes and races.

9. How can weather be symbolic in literature?

rain is clean -- a form of purification, baptism, removing sin or a stain

3 What is symbolic vampirism

selfishness, exploitation, refusal to respect the autonomy of other people, using people to get what we want

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

stories grow out of other stories, poems out of other poems.

4 What does Foster mean by the term intertextuality

the connections between one story and another deepen our appreciation and experience

15. In what ways might flight be symbolic in literature?

to escape tragedy, express ones self, flight with ones soul, and escape burdens of life

10 What is the problem with being best pals with the hero?

typically you serve as a symbol to die or survive

3. What are the "essentials of the vampire story" and what do they represent

violates a young woman, leaves his mark, takes her innocence

9. What are some of the common "meanings" of various types of weather

• Rain form of purification, or is destructive • Rainbow hope, promise of peace • Fog signal of confusion • Snow cold death, nothingness, or its clean pure playful