Study Guide for 'How to Read Literature Like a Professor' Writing Assignments | Summaries Literature

Writing Assignments for

How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster (2nd edition)

(Adapted from Donna Anglin)

Introduction: How’d He Do That?

How do memory, symbol, and pattern affect the reading of literature? How does the recognition of

patterns make it easier to read complicated literature? Discuss a time when your appreciation of a literary

work was enhanced by understanding symbol or pattern.

Chapter 1 -- Every Trip Is a Quest (Except When It’s Not)

List the five aspects of the QUEST and then apply them to something you have read (or viewed) in the

form used on pages 4-5.

Chapter 2 -- Nice to Eat with You: Acts of Communion

Choose a meal from a literary work and apply the ideas of Chapter 2 to this literary depiction.

Chapter 3 --Nice to Eat You: Acts of Vampires

What are the essentials of the Vampire story? Apply this to a literary work you have read or viewed.

Chapter 4 --Now, Where Have I Seen Her Before?

Define intertextuality. Discuss three examples that have helped you in reading specific works.

Chapter 5 -- When in Doubt, It’s from Shakespeare...

Discuss a work that you are familiar with that alludes to or reflects Shakespeare. Show how the author

uses this connection thematically. Read pages 44-46 carefully. In these pages, Foster shows how Fugard

reflects Shakespeare through both plot and theme. In your discussion, focus on theme.

Chapter 6 -- ...Or the Bible

Read “Araby” (available online). Discuss Biblical allusions that Foster does not mention. Look at the

example of the “two great jars.” Be creative and imaginative in these connections.

Chapter 7 -- Hanseldee and Greteldum

Think of a work of literature that reflects a fairy tale. Discuss the parallels. Does it create irony or deepen

appreciation?

Chapter 8 -- It’s Greek to Me

Write a free verse poem derived or inspired by characters or situations from Greek mythology. Be

prepared to share your poem with the class. Note that there are extensive links to classical mythology on

my Classics page.

Chapter 9 -- It’s More Than Just Rain or Snow

Discuss the importance of weather in a specific literary work, not in terms of plot.

Chapter 10 -- Never Stand Next to the Hero

Explain the difference between round and flat characters. Give three examples in literature or in a movie

where the title of this chapter applies and how.

Interlude -- Does He Mean That

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Writing Assignments for

How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster ( 2

edition)

(Adapted from Donna Anglin)

Introduction: How’d He Do That? How do memory, symbol, and pattern affect the reading of literature? How does the recognition of patterns make it easier to read complicated literature? Discuss a time when your appreciation of a literary work was enhanced by understanding symbol or pattern. Chapter 1 -- Every Trip Is a Quest (Except When It’s Not) List the five aspects of the QUEST and then apply them to something you have read (or viewed) in the form used on pages 4-5. Chapter 2 -- Nice to Eat with You: Acts of Communion Choose a meal from a literary work and apply the ideas of Chapter 2 to this literary depiction. Chapter 3 --Nice to Eat You: Acts of Vampires What are the essentials of the Vampire story? Apply this to a literary work you have read or viewed. Chapter 4 --Now, Where Have I Seen Her Before? Define intertextuality. Discuss three examples that have helped you in reading specific works. Chapter 5 -- When in Doubt, It’s from Shakespeare... Discuss a work that you are familiar with that alludes to or reflects Shakespeare. Show how the author uses this connection thematically. Read pages 44-46 carefully. In these pages, Foster shows how Fugard reflects Shakespeare through both plot and theme. In your discussion, focus on theme. Chapter 6 -- ...Or the Bible Read “Araby” (available online). Discuss Biblical allusions that Foster does not mention. Look at the example of the “two great jars.” Be creative and imaginative in these connections. Chapter 7 -- Hanseldee and Greteldum Think of a work of literature that reflects a fairy tale. Discuss the parallels. Does it create irony or deepen appreciation? Chapter 8 -- It’s Greek to Me Write a free verse poem derived or inspired by characters or situations from Greek mythology. Be prepared to share your poem with the class. Note that there are extensive links to classical mythology on my Classics page. Chapter 9 -- It’s More Than Just Rain or Snow Discuss the importance of weather in a specific literary work, not in terms of plot. Chapter 10 -- Never Stand Next to the Hero Explain the difference between round and flat characters. Give three examples in literature or in a movie where the title of this chapter applies and how. Interlude -- Does He Mean That

Chapter 11 --...More Than It’s Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence Present examples of the two kinds of violence found in literature. Show how the effects are different. Chapter 12 -- Is That a Symbol? Use the process described on page 113 and investigate the symbolism of the fence in “Araby.” (Mangan’s sister stands behind it.) Chapter 13 – It’s All Political Assume that Foster is right and “it is all political.” Use his criteria to show that one of the major works assigned to you as a freshman is political. Chapter 14 -- Yes, She’s a Christ Figure, Too Apply the criteria on page 126- 129 to a major character in a significant literary work. Try to choose a character that will have many matches. This is a particularly apt tool for analyzing film -- for example, Star Wars, Cool Hand Luke, Excalibur, Malcolm X, Braveheart, Spartacus, Gladiator and Ben-Hur. Chapter 15 -- Flights of Fancy Select a literary work in which flight signifies escape or freedom. Explain in detail. Chapter 16 -- It’s All About Sex... Chapter 17 -- ...Except the Sex OK…the sex chapters. The key idea from this chapter is that “scenes in which sex is coded rather than explicit can work at multiple levels and sometimes be more intense that literal depictions” (149). In other words, sex is often suggested with much more art and effort than it is described, and, if the author is doing his job, it reflects and creates theme or character. Choose a novel or movie in which sex is suggested, but not described, and discuss how the relationship is suggested and how this implication affects the theme or develops characterization. Chapter 18 -- If She Comes Up, It’s Baptism Think of a “baptism scene” from a significant literary work. How was the character different after the experience? Discuss. Chapter 1 9 -- Geography Matters… Discuss at least four different aspects of a specific literary work that Foster would classify under “geography.” Chapter 20 -- ...So Does Season Find a poem that mentions a specific season. Then discuss how the poet uses the season in a meaningful, traditional, or unusual way. (Submit a copy of the poem with your analysis.) Interlude -- One Story Write your own definition for archetype. Then identify an archetypal story and apply it to a literary work with which you are familiar. Chapter 21 -- Marked for Greatness Figure out Harry Potter’s scar. If you aren’t familiar with Harry Potter, select another character with a physical imperfection and analyze its implications for characterization.

Study Guide for 'How to Read Literature Like a Professor' Writing Assignments, Summaries of Literature

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Download Study Guide for 'How to Read Literature Like a Professor' Writing Assignments and more Summaries Literature in PDF only on Docsity!

Writing Assignments for

How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster ( 2

edition)

(Adapted from Donna Anglin)