8-28-2012
Chapter 15- Flights of Fancy
Humans have always been fascinated with flight. Flight can be very symbolic, mostly of freedom and letting go. Biblical references can be found in literature flights.
Chapter 16- It's All About Sex....
For many years sex wasn't openly discussed in literature, movies, or society so authors invented ways to subtly talk about this topic. Some authors use every day objects to represent the male and female reproductive parts. (lock and key) Others describe other aspects of sex. Fireworks and sea shore are also related to erotic events.
Chapter 17- ...Except Sex
Usually when an author is describing straight forward sex there is a deeper meaning not pertaining to the act at all.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
How to Read Literature Like a Professor (Chapter 12, 13 &14)
8-27-2012
Chapter 12- Is that a Symbol...
A symbol doesn't have to be linked towards and actual person or thing, but it can also be an emotion. More often than not though, the interpretation of symbolism is left up to the reader, therefore, there are almost endless ways to analyze a symbol. Allegory is different from a symbol though,
Chapter 13- It's All Political
Political writing comes in a few different forms including discussing specific issues (wars); relations between social classes; financial, racial, and gender equality; or the constant pressure government (maybe just society) places on individuals.
Chapter 14- Yes, She's a Christ Figure, Too
People who possess some of these characteristics might be depicted as a Christ-like figure: kind, gentle, self-sacrificing, physical suffering, forgiving, redeeming undeserving people, rising from death on the third day, thoughtful, has followers (more specifically 12 apostles of varying devotion.) The Christ like figure doesn't need to fit this criteria exactly though.
Chapter 12- Is that a Symbol...
A symbol doesn't have to be linked towards and actual person or thing, but it can also be an emotion. More often than not though, the interpretation of symbolism is left up to the reader, therefore, there are almost endless ways to analyze a symbol. Allegory is different from a symbol though,
Chapter 13- It's All Political
Political writing comes in a few different forms including discussing specific issues (wars); relations between social classes; financial, racial, and gender equality; or the constant pressure government (maybe just society) places on individuals.
Chapter 14- Yes, She's a Christ Figure, Too
People who possess some of these characteristics might be depicted as a Christ-like figure: kind, gentle, self-sacrificing, physical suffering, forgiving, redeeming undeserving people, rising from death on the third day, thoughtful, has followers (more specifically 12 apostles of varying devotion.) The Christ like figure doesn't need to fit this criteria exactly though.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
How to Read Literature Like a Professor (Chapters 10-11)
8-26-12
Chapter 10- It's More Than Just Rain or Snow
All elements of weather, are never just what they seem. Rain can symbolize anything from mystery and misery to new birth and cleansing. On the same note, rainbows have their own meanings: divine promise (reference to the chapter 7 about the Bible.) Fog signals some sort of confusion. Snow can bring people together or parallel many of the things rain does.
Interlude- Does He Mean That?
As readers we have to be constantly aware of the hidden references, symbols, and parallelisms that the author has hidden.
Chapter 11- ...More Than It's Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence
There are many different types of violence: cultural, societal, symbolic, thematic, biblical, Shakespearean, Romantic allegorical, transcendent. Those then fall into two categories: one where something specific happens to the character (getting beat up, stabbings, shootings) and narrative violence where the author causes general harm to the characters (death, emotional suffering.)
Thursday, August 23, 2012
How to Read Literature Like a Professor (Chapters 7,8, 9)
August 22 2012
Chapter 7-...Or the Bible
People from every generation from all around the world know the Bible, making it a great resource for references. Stories about temptation and falling from the "good life" (grace) all pertain to the Bible.
Chapter 8- Hanseldee and Greteldum
As a writer, you have to be careful who you borrow ideas or references from. A reference to a current movie probably won't be recognized in 100 years, but then who can you reference from? The answer is the classics such as fairy tales, folk tales (Like Hansen and Gretel), the Bible, and the classic Disney princess movies. One quote from the book really sums up this chapter perfectly, "...we want strangeness in our stories, but we want familiarity too. We want a new novel to be not like anything we have ever read before. At the same time, we look for it to be sufficiently like other things we've read so we can use those to make sense of it."
Chapter 9- It's Greek to Me
The three types of myths that have been talked about in this chapter are Shakespearean, biblical, and folk/fairy tale. The most universal is biblical, as said in chapter 7. Thomas C. Foster defined myths as "the ability of story to ourselves to ourselves in ways that physics, philosophy, mathematics, chemistry can't."
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
How to Read Literature Like a Professor (Chapters 4,5,6)
August 21 2012
Chapter 4- If it's Square it's a Sonnet
A sonnet is basically a very common type of poem that has been used in writing for centuries. This writing style is very short, so the writer has to make sure everything is perfect (i.e. word choice.)A sonnet also has 14 lines and has iambic pentameter, usually containing 10 syllables per line. A Sonnet is one of either two types Shakespearean or Petrarchan. Since it is so short, the structure becomes a meaning of the poem. Take a look at the structure after you've read the poem once or twice.
Chapter 5- Now, Where Have I Seen Her Before?
One of the great things about reading is that you can relate past reading material to the works that you are currently reading. According to Foster, "There's no such thing as original literature." So when anyone is writing they are creating their work using everything from childhood experiences, movies they have seen, books they have read, basically anything that lurks in your mind. There is only one big story, LIFE, that is, and always has been, going on around us, from which all stories, play, movies, etc. are then derived. Recognizing familiar friends becomes easier, though, when you become a more experienced reader.
Chapter 6- When in Doubt, It's From Shakespeare
The works of William Shakespeare are found everywhere! From everyday expressions to modern day movies. He is quite a legend in the world of literature so, as said in chapter 5, why wouldn't we let his works influence our own?
Chapter 4- If it's Square it's a Sonnet
A sonnet is basically a very common type of poem that has been used in writing for centuries. This writing style is very short, so the writer has to make sure everything is perfect (i.e. word choice.)A sonnet also has 14 lines and has iambic pentameter, usually containing 10 syllables per line. A Sonnet is one of either two types Shakespearean or Petrarchan. Since it is so short, the structure becomes a meaning of the poem. Take a look at the structure after you've read the poem once or twice.
Chapter 5- Now, Where Have I Seen Her Before?
One of the great things about reading is that you can relate past reading material to the works that you are currently reading. According to Foster, "There's no such thing as original literature." So when anyone is writing they are creating their work using everything from childhood experiences, movies they have seen, books they have read, basically anything that lurks in your mind. There is only one big story, LIFE, that is, and always has been, going on around us, from which all stories, play, movies, etc. are then derived. Recognizing familiar friends becomes easier, though, when you become a more experienced reader.
Chapter 6- When in Doubt, It's From Shakespeare
The works of William Shakespeare are found everywhere! From everyday expressions to modern day movies. He is quite a legend in the world of literature so, as said in chapter 5, why wouldn't we let his works influence our own?
How to Read Literature Like a Professor (Chapters 1,2,3)
Aug 21st 2012
Chapter 1- Every Trip is a Quest (Except When It's Not)
A quest consists of 5 specific things: a person to go on the quest, a place to go, a stated reason to go there, challenges and trials in route, and a REAL (unstated) reason to go to said destination. Even if it seems insignificant, if it has these three things, it is a quest. In How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Foster gives an excellent example of a pretend quest. A young boy (quester) sent to the store on his lame bike to get bread for his mother(stated reason). On the way to the store he sees his high school crush with her boyfriend and his cool car followed by some scary barking dogs(challenges)! Luckily for unnamed kid, though, he makes it to the store safely (about to unknowingly receive the REAL reason for going!) Just when he's about to leave the store BAM! he has an epiphany, of sorts, when he sees a Saint appear right before his eyes on this loaf of bread (Here is the real reason!)
In this chapter the author continually stresses that the real reason for a quest is always self knowledge.
Chapter 2- Nice to Eat with You: Acts of Communion
The main gist of this chapter is that eating together shows your fondness of other people. Foster states that "Whenever people eat or drink together, it's communion," which I had never considered. What came to mind when I read this chapter was all of the books, and movies for that matter, that have had people coming together for a meal, for quite some period of time too. Emotions play a large part in communion, or lack there of. You wouldn't invite your worst enemy to go on a date with you to a fancy restaurant, and on the same line, when you pick a spot to eat in the cafeteria you don't sit by someone you're not fond of. The author also uses an example from a movie called Tom Jones: the director had to find a way to depict sex in a way that was well, PG. So in the end many emotions: love, hatred, and lust can be shown just through eating!
Chapter 3- Nice to Eat You: Acts of Vampires
This vampire chapter had a lot to digest. Foster unveils so many ways in which vampirism is shown in literature and in movies. Vampirism is about evil, manipulation, lust, seduction, temptation, danger, taking away innocence, and sex.
Chapter 1- Every Trip is a Quest (Except When It's Not)
A quest consists of 5 specific things: a person to go on the quest, a place to go, a stated reason to go there, challenges and trials in route, and a REAL (unstated) reason to go to said destination. Even if it seems insignificant, if it has these three things, it is a quest. In How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Foster gives an excellent example of a pretend quest. A young boy (quester) sent to the store on his lame bike to get bread for his mother(stated reason). On the way to the store he sees his high school crush with her boyfriend and his cool car followed by some scary barking dogs(challenges)! Luckily for unnamed kid, though, he makes it to the store safely (about to unknowingly receive the REAL reason for going!) Just when he's about to leave the store BAM! he has an epiphany, of sorts, when he sees a Saint appear right before his eyes on this loaf of bread (Here is the real reason!)
In this chapter the author continually stresses that the real reason for a quest is always self knowledge.
Chapter 2- Nice to Eat with You: Acts of Communion
The main gist of this chapter is that eating together shows your fondness of other people. Foster states that "Whenever people eat or drink together, it's communion," which I had never considered. What came to mind when I read this chapter was all of the books, and movies for that matter, that have had people coming together for a meal, for quite some period of time too. Emotions play a large part in communion, or lack there of. You wouldn't invite your worst enemy to go on a date with you to a fancy restaurant, and on the same line, when you pick a spot to eat in the cafeteria you don't sit by someone you're not fond of. The author also uses an example from a movie called Tom Jones: the director had to find a way to depict sex in a way that was well, PG. So in the end many emotions: love, hatred, and lust can be shown just through eating!
Chapter 3- Nice to Eat You: Acts of Vampires
This vampire chapter had a lot to digest. Foster unveils so many ways in which vampirism is shown in literature and in movies. Vampirism is about evil, manipulation, lust, seduction, temptation, danger, taking away innocence, and sex.
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