When reading books, most readers focus solely on the basic plot, yet many contain deeper literary meanings hidden behind symbols, patterns, and other conventions. Thomas C. Foster teaches readers how to analyze literature on a professional level.
Foster states that most readers experience fiction works on an affective level – which he defines as responses such as joy or disgust, laughter or tears – which requires little analysis for most lay readers. He suggests various other levels of analysis.
Memory
Professors employ memory, symbols, and patterns to decode literature beyond its basic story level. Readers who read like professors also tend to have advanced understandings of literature, which allows them to get more out of reading it; they understand how the book speaks directly to them while using this understanding to make more sense of what they’re reading.
According to this book, students often fail to realize how much of what they read is symbolic. Professors are always looking for symbols in books and interpreting them based on past reading experiences – these professors will compare any new literary work read with similar structures, themes, or characters from prior literary works they have read – this process is known as intertextuality.
Readers who can recognize symbols used by an author to convey essential ideas will notice their author uses symbols like Simon in Lord of the Flies as an allegory for Christ due to his quiet demeanor and commitment to selfless acts, as well as spending time meditating and contemplating as He did during his earthly life.
In The Garden Party, symbolism can also convey important messages about class tensions in society and suggest a deeper meaning for specific character actions; for instance, sharing food may represent communion.
As well as understanding symbols, an excellent academic reader should look for references to previous literary works – often called sacred texts – such as Shakespeare’s plays, classic fairy tales, ancient myths, or even the Bible. By drawing connections between themes or plots established as significant in readers’ minds and new texts that use these allusions or allusions as devices, writers can add more impactful content for readers. These allusions may also be called allusions.
Symbols
Symbols are objects, events, and literary characters representing a deeper meaning. Without understanding symbols, your reading of books may only take place at a superficial level: rivers will be read as rivers; rain as simply some weather, but seasoned readers know to treat everything within works of literature as potential symbols – this allows them to go beyond surface level reading to uncover how seemingly disparate ideas connect through metaphor or resonance.
Foster uses symbolic readings as an example to demonstrate how allegorical readings help readers uncover the more profound message behind any book. He describes how authors may employ rivers in various ways in their writing to elicit specific emotions or effects in readers; how each writer utilizes particular symbols varies depending on the theme of their book and which reader reads it first; this underscores why readers must analyze a novel before diving in head first.
Reading like a professor requires being conscious of the universal messages hidden within each book you read. Doing this will enable you to identify which symbols to look out for while reading. For instance, when characters embark on quests, they should understand this is more than simply going somewhere specific but an opportunity for self-exploration. When characters share meals, they should realize this act symbolizes community spirit.
Reading multiple books is the key to learning how to read literature like a professor. Once you’ve experienced different styles, symbols, and patterns, you’ll be better equipped to read between the lines like Thomas C. Foster does in his book How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines. Foster holds Bachelor’s and Master of Arts degrees from Dartmouth and Michigan State Universities, as well as teaching stints at Kalamazoo College as an English Professor specializing in 20th Century British, American, and Irish literature as an expert in 20th Century British, American, Irish literature as a specialist of 20th Century British, American, and Irish Literature as 20th Century British and American authors like his Thomas C Foster dove into this specific genres to learn the ropes as quickly as possible!
Patterns
Reading like a professor requires developing specific reading techniques over time; according to Foster, professors use reading to uncover deeper meaning within literature by recognizing patterns and archetypes that provide more depth than initially appear in stories. Foster states that reading like a professor requires skill levels that can be developed with practice.
Professors who read literature use memory, symbols, and pattern recognition and focus on its overall structure. They try to understand how various elements connect within stories, providing clues into an author’s intentions.
Lord of the Flies draws its characters from biblical figures. Furthermore, when Golding takes the boys to the “south” of the island, it signifies their departure from society and civilization’s rules – giving the book an air of adventure while teaching readers essential aspects such as community values.
Furthermore, the author employs a Socratic approach in his writing; asking imagined student questions that serve as the framework of his book and giving readers a greater insight into his literary conventions such as character types, plot rhythms, and point of view. This Socratic method helps readers better understand the author’s literary conventions, such as character types, plot rhythms, and points of view.
The author also discusses how common literary devices such as allusions, symbols, and archetypes can be used to create depth in stories through allusions, characters, and archetypes. However, an advanced understanding of these tools must also include an ability to recognize irony; for instance, if a writer uses something such as snake symbolism to symbolize Satan but then kills off that character to demonstrate mortality lessons, then perhaps this was not an apt symbol to represent him/her?
Finding these connections may be challenging for newer readers, but it becomes much more straightforward with practice. Many students develop the ability to identify patterns throughout their college careers, which allows them to explore literature more deeply and comprehend complex books more completely.
Intertextuality
As a reader, you should watch for symbols, archetypes, and patterns in literature. By paying close attention to such features, you can discover hidden meanings within stories that might not appear obvious at first glance. These deeper meanings often result from intertextuality, that is when one piece references another work or builds upon another work – most authors use intertextuality in some form or another! While plagiarism might be uncommon among writers today, almost every author uses some intertextuality within their work – nearly every author utilizes intertextuality in some form or another when creating works by copying another author (though very few do this explicitly), almost all authors use intertextuality in some form or another when creating jobs by different authors referencing another work which references another work in some form when creating their works by borrowing heavily from another piece and referencing another work altogether – something authors rarely do when creating works by authors copying another author; almost always do they do this when writing by authors directly copying from another work while many will use intertextuality when doing their writing; it allows readers to see that deeper meaning not apparent to the naked eye when authors do this either).
Intertextuality occurs through translation, form, parody, allegory, retelling, fan fiction, and prequels; for instance, it is apparent in the Harry Potter series, where author JK Rowling created her unique take on classic fairy tales while maintaining many original characters and plotlines.
Symbols, archetypes, and patterns can be found throughout many texts; literary analysis often uses them more frequently than any other field. Many characters are familiar from classic fairy tales or religious scriptures and represent ideas or events universally understood, such as quest or communion; authors frequently employ symbols to communicate more complex emotions, such as anger or guilt, through literary analysis.
With more familiarity comes greater ease in uncovering its hidden meanings and deciphering literary symbols in works of literature. If you lack much background knowledge on a job, research may be required to discover its reference points and grasp its meaning.
Though intertextuality is most frequently found in poetry, plays, novels, and short stories, it can also be found in short stories, essays, and movies. Even songs and commercials referencing other cultural or historical references could qualify as intertextual texts.
As long as you can recall information quickly and recognize symbols, archetypes, and patterns in literature, the tools necessary for reading like a professor should be at your fingertips. Don’t be afraid to question assumptions regarding literary devices – sometimes an author will surprise us and require the courage to go with your instincts!
