To read literature like a professor, according to Thomas C. Foster's book How to Read Literature Like a Professor , involves several key strategies that elevate reading beyond just following the story and characters' actions:
- Recognize literary conventions: Professors notice recurring elements in literature such as types of characters, plot patterns, chapter structures, symbols, and themes that appear across genres and time periods.
- Use memory: Expert readers mentally connect what they are reading to other books, stories, myths, or historical events they have encountered before. This helps uncover deeper meanings beyond the surface plot.
- See symbolism: Most things in literature can be symbolic, standing for larger ideas or themes. Rain might symbolize cleansing or renewal, for example, and a shared meal may signify communion or relationship-building.
- Detect patterns: Skilled readers observe larger narrative patterns or archetypes, such as quests, journeys, or sacrifices, that provide a framework to understand the story's purpose.
- Think metaphorically: Professors read with the mindset that everything in a story could be a sign or metaphor pointing to a greater meaning or lesson.
- Ask probing questions: Instead of passively reading, they actively ask questions like "What does this symbolize?", "Where else have I seen this motif?", and "What is the author really trying to say?".
- Practice: Developing this sophisticated reading skill takes time and effort, much like mastering any craft.
Foster presents these ideas with examples and encourages readers to approach literature with curiosity, looking beneath the surface to discover hidden truths and richer layers of meaning. This way, reading becomes more rewarding and insightful rather than just an emotional reaction to the story.
If you want, I can provide a summary of some of the specific literary conventions and symbols Foster discusses in the book. Would you like that?
