ipl-logo

Summary Of How To Read Literature Like A Professor By Thomas Foster

650 Words3 Pages

Meagan Sanders
Mrs. Smith
AP Literature and Composition
September 20, 2017
How to Read Literature like a Professor
Thomas Foster wrote a guide to analyzing pieces of literature to lead students in thoroughly searching through texts and documents to find hidden meanings and the reason behind what the author wrote what he did and why he used the techniques he used. Foster used a first-person point of view to help the reader relate better to the topics and his explanation. He changes his tone according to the subject matter he is discussing to change the mood of the text. As well as alluding to multiple classic pieces of literature, he creates an easy systematic guide that benefits students wishing to excel in reading and writing based classes.
Foster chooses to use the first person point of view. The reason behind this is that it is easier for him to relate to the reader and to share his thoughts and experiences on the subject matter. By choosing to …show more content…

The tone that he uses when he introducing a new idea to the reader is very formal and contemplative. For example “Many modern and postmodern texts are essentially ironic … to illustrate a disparity or disruption,” sounds signicantly more sophisticated than, “I lived for a good while not knowing where that phrase came from, although to the extent I thought about it, I was pretty sure. (Foster, pg. 37). (Foster, pg. 38). This shift in tone is very significant to the way the reader connects with the author. By setting a formal mood, Foster creates a feeling of trust from the reader, that they can count on him to be a reliable source of information. However, by referring to his own personal experience of learning and being oblivious to hidden allusions to classic literature, the reader is assured that they can, eventually, read literature like a

Show More
Related

The Scarlet Letter How To Read Literature Like A Professor

863 Words | 4 Pages

How does How To Read Literature Like A Professor applies to every piece of literature? This novel is written by Thomas Foster and he gives the better understanding on many things, including patterns, symbols, and other literary devices. He helps the reader to gain knowledge on how to recognize each small detail of the story. This novel makes the connection with The Scarlet Letter and makes it easier to comprehend. The Scarlet Letter is written by Nathaniel Hawthorne; this novel is about Hester Prynne, who is a young and beautiful woman and committed adultery with town’s minister, Reverend Dimmesdale.

Read More

Comparing How To Read Literature Like A Professor And The Kite Runner

181 Words | 1 Pages

By reading “How to Read Literature like a Professor” and “The Kite Runner”, the reader is aided in his or her ability to understand the true meanings behind the text. One is able to decipher how the act of coming together to eat can mean anything from a simple meal with family, to an uncomfortable situation that leads to anger or stress in an individual character. The reader is able to understand the use of rain or other weather in a novel to transform the mood and tone of scene, or understand the cleansing or destructive qualities that weather may have on the overall plot of the story. The use of illness can be transformed, as it can lead to the reader discovering veiled means behind tuberculosis, cholera, a simple cold, or even cancers such

Read More

Unbroken By Laura Hillenbrand: Literary Analysis

771 Words | 4 Pages

In Thomas C. Foster’s How To Read Literature Like a Professor For Kids, readers have the ability to identify certain elements from chapters “Nice To Eat You; Acts of Vampires”, “Is That a Symbol?”and “Marked For Greatness”, which Laura Hillenbrand puts to action in her book Unbroken. In Laura Hillenbrand’s novel Unbroken, the characters in the story show and play out the chapter 3 “Nice to Eat You; Acts of Vampires” from Thomas C. Foster’s How To Read Literature Like a Professor For Kids. In the novel Unbroken there is a general named Watanabe who was the leader of discipline at Omori POW camp in Japan. Watanabe was known for his brutality within the camp because his purposeful standing around waiting for someone to make one tiny mistake, so he could beat them until they were unconscious.

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of College Pressures By William Zinsser

1025 Words | 5 Pages

He changes up his style of writing to keep the reader entertained and also gave them a view of a student’s perspective in

Read More

Mike Bunn's How To Read Like A Writer

299 Words | 2 Pages

In Mike Bunn’s reading “How to Read Like a Writer” he discuss the importance of being able to read as a writer. He explains why it’s necessary to be able to understand what the author is trying to get across. Being able to identify why a writer chose is a certain tone for his/her writing is what makes one a better reader. One should put to themselves in the author’s shoes and be able to connect with the writing and understand from what point the author is coming from. When reading like a writer it facilitates one’s ability to understand to do this.

Read More

How To Read Literature Like A Professor Character Analysis

327 Words | 2 Pages

In Thomas C. Foster's How To Read Literature Like a Professor, he describes the setup of the adventure of the protagonist, dividing it into five parts: Our quester, a place to go, a stated reason to there, challenges and trials, and the real reason to go. A protagonist must experience all of these things in order to accomplish their goals and learn their lessons. In The Secret Life of Bees, Lily Owens, the main character, must encounter these things in order to unlock the mystery of what really happened to her mother the night she was killed, in addition to learning about the passion of writing and telling stories, the dangers and foolishness of racism, and female power. Our quester, Lily, is a fourteen year old girl with a passion for writing.

Read More

Frederick Douglass Rhetorical Analysis Essay

1405 Words | 6 Pages

At the end of the quote, he reminds us that no matter how powerful a writer he might be, language cannot quite capture the trauma of the experience. The author often

Read More

How To Read Literature Like A Professor For Kids Sparknotes

902 Words | 4 Pages

The purpose of How to Read Literature Like a Professor: For Kids by Thomas C. Foster is to gain a deeper understanding of fiction books by analyzing subtle literary devices hidden in the text and being able to discover these subtle secrets, readers can notice patterns, foreshadows, symbolism, and the author’s true purpose for the piece of literature. Foster’s lessons can be seen in The House of the Seven Gables, by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The mansion with seven gables is cursed by Mathew Maule who was wrongfully accused of witchcraft by Colonel Pyncheon. This curse plagues future generations with poverty, bad luck, and violence within the house. As Phoebe Pyncheon goes to live with her cousins, Hepzibah and Clifford, she learns of dark secrets

Read More

The Perils Of Indifference By Elie Wiesel

621 Words | 3 Pages

He establishes a serious tone for the readers by using literary devices such as Repetition, Structure, and Imagery in order to achieve his message that indifference

Read More

Imagery And Figurative Language In George Orwell's Shooting An Elephant

849 Words | 4 Pages

(1). He uses the rhetorical device of figurative language to give the reader a strong image of his feeling

Read More

Read Literature Like A Professor Analysis

1823 Words | 8 Pages

What he meant was that literature is emotions and experiences that tell what it means to be human, and as people evolve over time so does literature. In both there is a history to keep drawing from that impacts what happens from there on out. It now has more substance after he explained how he sees it. I also found it interesting how much interpretations can vary. Obviously a person’s beliefs, opinions, experiences, and just about everything else can influence how they understand what they read, but seeing it in action is different.

Read More

Symbolism In How To Read Literature Like A Professor

643 Words | 3 Pages

In How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Thomas C. Foster teaches readers the meanings behind commonly used symbols, themes, and motifs. Many readers of all ages use this book as a guide to understanding messages and deeper meanings hidden in novels. The deeper literary meanings of various symbols in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale are explained in How to Read Literature Like a Professor. By using Foster’s book, readers can better understand the symbols in The Handmaid’s Tale.

Read More

Summary Of How To Read Literature Like A Professor For Kids By Thomas Foster

243 Words | 1 Pages

As Stated by the author of How to Read Literature Like a Professor For Kids, by Thomas Foster, authors use certain varieties of weather conditions in order to set a mood in the story that’s relevant to the scenario present. Foster explains this action as saying, “But an author doesn't have a quick shower of rain, or a flurry or snow, or a flood or a blizzard, for no reason at all (Foster, 59).” What the author is trying to remark is that authors don't put unnecessary weather unless it contributes to the plot or the mood, sometimes even using it as means of ivory. One example of weather being used in the movie clip from Toy Story is rain. The rain didn't start until Sid was just about the release a rocket outside with Buzz attached, which

Read More

How To Read Literature Like A Professor Analysis

777 Words | 4 Pages

Behind each movie lies the meaningful aspects and significant features worth noticing. All movies and books can be carefully examined and interpreted. Thomas C. Foster’s How to Read Literature Like a Professor provides a new view on interpreting literature. In the novel, Foster identifies and analyzes common patterns, themes, and motifs found in literature, many of which are also present in Disney’s film, Maleficent. This movie showcases several of his ideas, including quests, flight, geography, and symbolism.

Read More

Theme, Symbolism In Ghost, By Jason Reynolds

1166 Words | 5 Pages

The book, Ghost, by Jason Reynolds is a story about a boy named Castle, but is called Ghost. Castle has a very rough life because his father is imprisoned and his mother struggles with finances. Castle is a misbehaved kid who struggles in school and makes a track team which motivates him to be good in school. Track played ended up playing a huge role in his life and went through the ups and downs with him. Track taught him respect and discipline which spread throughout his home.

Read More

More about Summary Of How To Read Literature Like A Professor By Thomas Foster

Related Topics

Open Document