Theodor Seuss Geisel's I Can Read With My Eyes Shut

1. Author and artist Theodor Seuss Geisel's I Can Read With My Eyes Shut! acknowledges already known information influencing reading similar to Frank Smith's reading theory discussing nonvisual and visual information. For example, Geisel writes "I can read Mississippi with my eyes shut tight" (line 7), asserting this as his pre-existing knowledge. He goes on to add, "If you read with your eyes shut, you're likely to find That the place where you're going is far, far behind" (lines 12-13), claiming if you rely solely on your nonvisual information while reading, you will not improve upon it. Psycholinguist Frank Smith states a similar argument, writing "The less nonvisual information that is available from behind the eyes, the more visual information is required" (67), telling the reader to open your eyes while reading and expand upon your nonvisual information, as Geisel states in his poem.

In addition, the first chapter from My Reading Life acknowledges expanding upon previously established information akin to Frank Smith's assertions in his reading theory. For

In the first chapter of My Reading Life novelist Pat Conroy writes, "My mother hungered for art, for illumination, for some path to lead her to a shining way to call her own" (15), which I believe is true of any great inspiration. My favorite art teacher I had in high school was Mrs. Bobo. She did not do the best job of teaching, but she everlastingly spread positivity. She constantly obsessed over my art; I think she truly loved it. One day, after I handed in a piece for her class, she held it, studied it, sighed longingly, and told me, "Hadley, you're too talented not to go into art." I knew she meant it, I knew succumbing to the arts would be an arduous life to live, and I knew, thanks to her, I had to pursue it. This is the only instance I can recall where anyone has encouraged me and I took it to heart. I hold her words still, gently, afraid they may break, afraid I may stop believing in