How to Read Literature Like a Professor (Study Questions) Free Essay Example

*Introduction*

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

2. What does Foster mean by the phrase “language of reading”?

grammar

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

*Chapter 1: Every Trip is a Quest (Except When It’s Not)*

1. What five things does a quest consist of?

Quester, place to go, started reason, trials, real reason

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

Self knowledge

3. What is Foster’s overall point about journeys or trips in literature?

Everything is a quest

*Chapter 2: Nice to Eat With You: Acts of Communion*

1. What does “communion” mean?

Whenever people eat or drink together

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

*Chapter 3: Nice to Eat You: Acts of Vampires*

1. What is literal vampirism?

nasty old man (steals innocence)

2. What is symbolic vampirism?

sucks life out of a person

3. What are the “essentials of the vampire story” and what do they represent?

“Older” figure, young female/innocent, continuance of life force

*Chapter 4: Now, Where Have I Seen Her Before?*

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. What does Foster mean by the term intertextuality?

Borrowing from other works of literature

3. What is the benefit, or value, of picking up on the parallels between works of literature?

Structure & meaning

*Chapter 5: When in Doubt, It’s from Shakespeare…*

1. Why do so many writers allude to Shakespeare?

Easy way to find good stories

2. What are some of the ways that Shakespeare influences writers?

It provides plot and language

*Chapter 6:…Or the Bible*

1. Why is the Bible so often alluded to in literature?

Everyone knows Bible stories

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

Plot, titles, motifs, characters, themes

3. What’s the benefit of knowing/understanding Bible allusions in literature?

You can find the deeper meanings

*Chapter 7: Hanseldee and Greteldum*

1. Why do writers borrow from “kiddie lit” in their works?

Readers can always relate

2. What are some of the ways writers allude to “kiddie lit” in their writings?

Small known details

*Chapter 8: It’s Greek to Me*

1. What does Foster mean by the term myth?

Body of a story that matters

2. Why do writers allude to mythology?

Stories are ingrained in society

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

Components that parallel or represent a myth

*Chapter 9: It’s More Than Just Rain or Snow*

1. How can weather be symbolic in literature?

It could be shown as a new awakening (rain) or as a feeling of nothingness

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

It can be used to force two characters together

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

*Chapter 10: Never Stand Next To The Hero*

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

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

*Chapter 11: …More Than It’s Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence*

1. Why does violence occur in literature?

basis of plot, interested, plot complications

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

situational and authorial

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

misfortune represents famous / mythical resemble, why?

4. What are the four reasons that authors kill of characters in literature?

make action, plot complications, end plot complications, put characters under stress

*Chapter 12: Is That a Symbol?*

1. What’s the difference between symbolism and allegory?

mean different thing / one thing

2. What impacts a readers’ understanding of symbolic meaning?

better understanding

3. What, besides objects, can be symbolic?

gesters, movements, emotions

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

*Chapter 13: It’s All Political*

1. Foster asserts that, “Nearly all writing is __________”.

political

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

an underlying theme to get at political views the author may have

3. Why do authors include social criticism in their writings?

to oppress the government not publicly

4. What are some of the common “political” issues that writers tackle?

problems government is facing

*Chapter 14: Yes, She’s a Christ Figure, Too*

1. What are the characteristics of a “Christ figure”?

good with children, self-serving

2. Does a character need to resemble Christ in all ways to be considered a “Christ figure”?

no

3. Why do writers use Christ figures?

Jesus is iconic-> he has become a symbol

*Chapter 15: Flights of Fancy*

1. Why do so many writers “toy with flight” in their works?

it is a culture shared fantasy

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

escape from reality / freedom

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

fear failure / actually failure

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

*Chapter 16: It’s All About Sex…*

1. What are some of the things that symbolize sex and / or gender?

chalice, swords, building, rolling hills

2. Why does sexual symbolism exist / occur in literature?

because they could not right about it

*Chapter 17: …Except Sex*

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

2. Why don’t writers usually write actual sex scenes?

boring / more meaning

*Chapter 18: If She Comes Up, It’s Baptism*

1. When and how is water symbolic of baptism in literature?

start fresh and new

2. What does it mean when a character drowns?

rebirth, revelation, violence / guilt, plot complication, being cleansed

*Chapter 19: Geography Matters…*

1. How can geography reinforce theme?

proving the proper tools for interactions with characters

2. How can geography define / develop character?

the characters views can change

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

5. What are some patterns of symbolism with regard to geography?

going south- bad
fog- unknown
dark- evil

6. What does it mean when an author sends a character south?

bad stuffs, encounters with subconsiance

7. How can a writer’s personal geography inform his / her work?

geography surrounding the author effect his writing

*Chapter 20: …So Does Season*

1. What are the symbolic implications of each major season: spring, summer, fall, winter?

spring- youth
summer- adulthood
fall- decline
winter- death

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

circle of life

*Chapter 21: Marked for Greatness*

1. What might physical marks or imperfections symbolize?

moral, psychological, emotional, and imperfections

2. How can landscapes be “marked” as well? What might it mean”

physical / spiritual setting have a role

3. Beyond the individual, what can imperfection or deformity indicate?

foreshadow setting event and tell about past

4. What are some of the symbolic indications of monsters in literature?

extreme physical markings or imperfections

*Chapter 22: He’s Blind for a Reason, You Know*

1. What can physical blindness mirror?

moral / intertextuality to love

2. What is often the irony behind a blind character?

they can see truth

3. How are darkness and lightness related to sight?

darkness- no truth
lightness- truth

*Chapter 23: It’s Never Just Heart Disease… And Rarely Just Illness*

1. What are some of the symbolic possibilities associated with the heart? Why?

heart attacks or a broken heart

2. What things make a “prime literary disease”?

1. picturesque 2. mysterious orgin 3. symbolic reason

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.

*Chapter 24: Don’t Read with Your Eyes*

1. Why did I italicize “your” in the chapter title, above”

to emphasize that you’re supposed ot read through characters eyes

2. What is Foster’s main point in this chapter?

to put yourself in the story’s setting

3. Do we have to accept the values of another culture to accept the impact those values had on the writing”

yes

*Chapter 25: It’s My Symbol and I’ll Cry If I Want To*

1. What are symbols and how do they form?

something with a second meaning

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

*Chapter 26: Is He Serious? And Other Ironies*

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

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

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

4. There are three types of Irony in literature….

verbal, situational / structural, dramatic

Verbal irony-

character says opposite of what is expected

Situational / Structural irony-

situation or event plays out in an opposite or abnormal way-not like expected

Dramatic irony-

audience / reader knows more than the character knows

How to Read Literature Like a Professor (Study Questions)

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