How to Read Literature Like a Professor

a lively and entertaining guide to reading between the lines

Paperback, 314 pages

English language

Published Dec. 4, 2003 by Harper.

ISBN:
978-0-06-000942-7
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4 stars (1 review)

What does it mean when a fictional hero takes a journey?. Shares a meal? Gets drenched in a sudden rain shower? Often, there is much more going on in a novel or poem than is readily visible on the surface—a symbol, maybe, that remains elusive, or an unexpected twist on a character—and there's that sneaking suspicion that the deeper meaning of a literary text keeps escaping you.In this practical and amusing guide to literature, Thomas C. Foster shows how easy and gratifying it is to unlock those hidden truths, and to discover a world where a road leads to a quest; a shared meal may signify a communion; and rain, whether cleansing or destructive, is never just rain. Ranging from major themes to literary models, narrative devices, and form, How to Read Literature Like a Professor is the perfect companion for making your reading experience more enriching, satisfying, and fun.

9 editions

Subjects

  • Literature
  • Books and reading
  • Criticism
  • Literature -- History and criticism