How to Read Literature Like a Professor
By Thomas C. Foster
A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines, Revised Edition. Harper Perennial, 2014.
Summary of How to Read Literature Like a Professor book by Thomas C. Foster
Revealing the tricks of the English literature trade, including the common symbols and metaphors found in classic works, the allusions that litter many a page, and the patterns that professors teach their students to recognize so they can read on a deeper level.
Chapters in How to Read Literature Like a Professor book summary
What do you get from this book? An expert’s advice for reading on a deeper, more enlightening level
To understand the language of literature, you need a great memory to recall the symbols and patterns that embellish many stories
Most works of literature draw on what came before—two of the most prominent sources being Shakespeare and the Bible
The tales of old are ripe materials for alluding to, proving that there’s one grand story, retold over again
Classic authors love to include symbols, whether it has to do with meals, the supernatural, or even the seasons
Rain, sleet, snow, and hail can all be symbolic in literature, as can the geography of the setting
The difference between symbols and allegories is simpler than it sounds—all it takes is a basic understanding of religion and politics
Physical deformities and diseases set characters apart from others and are often used for this purpose in literature
Symbols of sex and flight are rampant in literature—each can be interpreted in multiple ways
Irony in books subverts our expectations, usually to make an author’s message even more powerful
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
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How to Read Literature Like a Professor — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read How to Read Literature Like a Professor book
- Lit teachers
- college or high school students
- anyone interested in the symbolism of storytelling
- those who want to get more out of their reading experiences
About the author of How to Read Literature Like a Professor
Thomas C. Foster
Thomas C. Foster is an English professor at the University of Michigan and the author of numerous bestsellers on literary forms from classic prose and poetry to novels and nonfiction. His recent work, How to Write Like a Writer, takes a bit of a twist on his previous publications, offering a glimpse at literature from the other side, and acting as a guide for creative writing.
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