How to Read Literature Like a Professor Ch 1-13

Quests

• Every journey is a quest unless stated otherwise, involving a quester, destination, reason, challenges, and self-discovery.
• Real purpose revolves around self-knowledge and personal growth.
• Examples include "Huckleberry Finn," "The Lord of the Rings," "Star Wars," and "Crying of Lot 49."

Acts of Communion

• Eating or drinking together symbolizes communion, characterized as sharing and peace.
• This act represents common ground among characters, regardless of religious connections.
• Literature examples: "Tom Jones," "Cathedral," and "The Dead."

Vampires

• Vampires and ghosts symbolize deeper themes beyond the supernatural.
• Common traits include an older male figure corrupting a youthful female character, often linked to sexuality.
• Examples include Marley's ghost from "A Christmas Carol," Daisy Miller, and Tess from "Tess of the D'Urbervilles."

The Sonnet

• Sonnets, stemming from the Renaissance, have 14 lines and typically 10 syllables per line.
• Two common forms: Petrarchan (Italian) with an 8-line stanza followed by a 6-line stanza, and Shakespearean, containing three quatrains and a couplet.

Originality

• No literature is wholly original; all works are influenced by prior narratives and archetypes.
• The concept suggests a singular overarching story that connects all literature, resembling a "barrel of eels."
• Examples: "Going After Cacciato," "Alice in Wonderland," "Sons of Anarchy," and "The Lion King."

Shakespeare

• Many literary references and quotes stem from Shakespeare's works, often without direct attribution.
• Famous line from "Macbeth": "By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes."

The Bible

• Biblical texts serve as a source of inspiration, transcending religious functions, influencing moral themes.
• Nonsectarian references are drawn from various literary works, notable example: "East of Eden" by Steinbeck.

Fairy Tales

• The literary canon evolves over time, with fairy tales providing rich ground for parallels and plot structures.
• Themes of children's vulnerability are prevalent, exemplified by stories like "Hansel and Gretel."
• Foster highlights the mix of strangeness and familiarity desired in storytelling.

Myths

• Myths offer storytelling frameworks that explain human experiences beyond scientific explanations.
• Notable recreations include "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and Joyce's "Ulysses," which reflects themes from Homer's "Odyssey."

Weather

• Weather is a significant literary device that enriches themes and emotional atmospheres in stories.
• It serves multiple functions, such as plot devices, symbolism, and setting tone.
• In "A Farewell to Arms," rain represents both restoration and mourning.

Violence

• Violence in literature reveals intimate human experiences and broader societal issues.
• Two categories: specific injurious acts and narrative violence, which include character suffering for thematic impact.
• Examples: Sethe's tragic choice in "Beloved" and the farm boy's accident in Frost's "Out, Out..."

Symbolism

• Symbolism is not confined to single interpretations; symbols can hold multiple meanings.
• Distinction between symbolism and allegory noted; allegory conveys direct relations.
• Significant symbols include rivers representing freedom and maturation in literature, as seen in "Huckleberry Finn" and Crane's poetry.

Politics

• Literary works inherently contain political elements, influenced by their creation context.
• Understanding socio-political conditions helps interpret the political dimensions in literature.
• Examples: Dickens critiques poverty in "A Christmas Carol," and Irving's "Rip Van Winkle" addresses post-Revolution America.