How To Read How To Read Literature Like A Literature Like A

ProfessorProfessor

Chapter 1: Every Trip Is A Chapter 1: Every Trip Is A QuestQuest

(Except When It’s Not)(Except When It’s Not)

By: Sarah n’ SteviBy: Sarah n’ Stevi

A Quest Consists Of Five A Quest Consists Of Five Main Things:Main Things:

A quester (person taking a quest)A quester (person taking a quest) A place to goA place to go A stated reason to go thereA stated reason to go there Challenges and trials in routeChallenges and trials in route A real reason to go thereA real reason to go there

A stated reason for the A stated reason for the quest is quest is nevernever the real the real

reason.reason. Most of the time, the quester fails at Most of the time, the quester fails at

the stated taskthe stated task The quest is educationalThe quest is educational Self-knowledge is the real reason for Self-knowledge is the real reason for

a questa quest

References:References: Thomas Pynchons’ Thomas Pynchons’ “Crying a Lot”“Crying a Lot” (1965) (1965) ““Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” (14 (14thth C) C) Edmond Spencer’ Edmond Spencer’ “Faerie Queen” “Faerie Queen” (1596)(1596) Sophocles’ Sophocles’ “Oedipus the King” “Oedipus the King” (ca. 425 BC)(ca. 425 BC) ““Huck Finn”Huck Finn” “ “ The Lord of the Rings”The Lord of the Rings” “ “ North By Northwest”North By Northwest” “ “ Star Wars”Star Wars”

Chapter 2

Nice to Eat with You:

Acts of Communion

““Whenever people eat or drink Whenever people eat or drink together, it’s communion.”together, it’s communion.”

Communion- a shared experience Communion- a shared experience that bonds people. (not just that bonds people. (not just

religiously)religiously)

Food is included in literature not Food is included in literature not because the meal itself is necessarily because the meal itself is necessarily

entertaining, but because there is entertaining, but because there is something in the plot that needs to something in the plot that needs to

be resolved during the meal. be resolved during the meal.

Sometimes friends eat and commune Sometimes friends eat and commune together.together.

Other times enemies do. Other times enemies do.

Meals are usually a way to make or Meals are usually a way to make or keep friendly bonds.keep friendly bonds.

But not always. But not always.

If the meal doesn’t go well, it is a bad If the meal doesn’t go well, it is a bad sign.sign.

The person who caused conflict betrayed The person who caused conflict betrayed the unwritten rule of literature, you must the unwritten rule of literature, you must

be nice to your dinner companion. be nice to your dinner companion.

• “Cathedral” (1981) by Raymond Carver

–The main character is disgusted by a blind man, a friend of his wife, who is coming for a visit. The solution to his problem is a meal.

–Eating gives them something in common and helps break down the character’s antipathy toward the blind man.

Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant (1982) by Anne Tyler “The Dead” (1914) by James Joyce

• Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant (1982) by Anne Tyler

– A mother fails to have a successful family dinner.

–Not until after her death are her children able to all get together to have a meal.

• “The Dead” (1914) by James Joyce

– Centered around a dinner party on the 12th day of Christmas.

–Great detail of the meal is used to pull readers into the story and convey the theme of tension.

–Dinner conversations lead readers to realize that what everyone has in common is morality.

Nice to Eat You:Nice to Eat You: Acts of Vampires Acts of Vampires

Chapter 3Chapter 3

Jason McArthurJason McArthur

Henry YounHenry Youn

References Found in the ChapterReferences Found in the Chapter

Dracula (1897)Dracula (1897) by Bram Stoker by Bram Stoker The Turn of the Screw The Turn of the Screw by Henry Jamesby Henry James Hamlet Hamlet by Shakespeareby Shakespeare A Christmas Carol A Christmas Carol by Dickensby Dickens Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1886)(1886)

by Robert Louis Stevensonby Robert Louis Stevenson Master of Ballantrae Master of Ballantrae (1889) (1889)

by Robert Louis Stevensonby Robert Louis Stevenson

More ReferencesMore References

Tess of the D’Urbervilles Tess of the D’Urbervilles (1891) (1891) by Thomas Hardyby Thomas Hardy

The MetamorphosisThe Metamorphosis and and A Hunger ArtistA Hunger Artistby Franz Kafka by Franz Kafka

The FoxThe Fox and and Women in Love Women in Love by D.H Lawrenceby D.H Lawrence

A Severed Head A Severed Head and and The Union The Union byby Iris MurdockIris Murdock

What’s the Chapter About?What’s the Chapter About?

VampirismVampirism- selfishness, exploitation, a - selfishness, exploitation, a refusal to respect the autonomy of other refusal to respect the autonomy of other people (not just about vampires)people (not just about vampires)

GhostsGhosts- not just for haunting (Marley and - not just for haunting (Marley and Hamlet’s father)Hamlet’s father)

Overall MessageOverall Message: Exploitation comes in : Exploitation comes in many forms in literature, and this is many forms in literature, and this is conveyed in the forms of vampires and conveyed in the forms of vampires and ghosts, although the ghosts may not ghosts, although the ghosts may not always be visible.always be visible.

If it is a square, It’s If it is a square, It’s SonnetSonnet

Chapter 4Chapter 4

If it sounds like a duck, looks like a duck…If it sounds like a duck, looks like a duck…

it’s a sonnet.it’s a sonnet.

Magic in the sonnetMagic in the sonnet

Images, music of the language, idea Images, music of the language, idea content, cleverness of wordplay.content, cleverness of wordplay.

Petrarchan 8 + sestet 6Petrarchan 8 + sestet 6

oror

Shakespeare “quatrain” (4+4+4)Shakespeare “quatrain” (4+4+4)

formationformation The sonnet form is normally The sonnet form is normally

recognized by square formation.recognized by square formation. Formation is only meant to be a Formation is only meant to be a

guideline for the information that is guideline for the information that is provided by the author.provided by the author.

InformationInformation The formation is the most The formation is the most

recognized part of the sonnet but recognized part of the sonnet but from the author’s point of view, the from the author’s point of view, the information inside is what really information inside is what really counts.counts.

Sonnet’s main purpose is the base of Sonnet’s main purpose is the base of the information. the information.

Is there a meaning behind the Is there a meaning behind the words?words?

Read the sonnet for meaning, then Read the sonnet for meaning, then look at the structure.look at the structure.

CreditsCredits

By: Tyler Nedley By: Tyler Nedley & & Josh HJosh Hébertébert

Google images <www.google.com>Google images <www.google.com>

““How to Read Literature like a How to Read Literature like a professor”professor”

Chapter 5Chapter 5Now, Where Have I Seen Now, Where Have I Seen

Her Before?Her Before?By:By:

Benjamin Alexander Cohen Benjamin Alexander Cohen XVIXVI&&

Kelly Rand Hefelfinger IIIKelly Rand Hefelfinger III

There’s only one story…There’s only one story…

Every author pulls his/her stories or Every author pulls his/her stories or poems from texts which he has poems from texts which he has previously read. This is the idea that previously read. This is the idea that each story is based on the one each story is based on the one before creating an encompassing before creating an encompassing story.story.

Intertextuality- the ongoing Intertextuality- the ongoing interaction between poems and interaction between poems and stories.stories.

There’s no such thing as a wholly, There’s no such thing as a wholly, original work of literature…original work of literature…

Since every author pulls information Since every author pulls information and ideas from other authors, no and ideas from other authors, no piece of literature is truly original; no piece of literature is truly original; no author creates something entirely author creates something entirely new. Everything is influenced by the new. Everything is influenced by the lessons and texts from before.lessons and texts from before.

The only original works were the firstThe only original works were the first—maybe even going back to the —maybe even going back to the Bible.Bible.

Literature References:Literature References:

Tim O’Brien’s Tim O’Brien’s Going After CacciatoGoing After Cacciato Lewis Carroll’s Lewis Carroll’s Alice in WonderlandAlice in Wonderland Angela Carter’s Angela Carter’s Wise ChildrenWise Children T. Coraghessan Boyle’s T. Coraghessan Boyle’s The Overcoat IIThe Overcoat II Nikolai Gogol’s Nikolai Gogol’s The OvercoatThe Overcoat William Trevor’s William Trevor’s Two More GallantsTwo More Gallants James Joyce’s James Joyce’s Two GallantsTwo Gallants John Gardner’s John Gardner’s GrendelGrendel BeowulfBeowulf

When in Doubt, It’s When in Doubt, It’s from Shakespearefrom Shakespeare

by: Alli Shepard and Gabby Waxman by: Alli Shepard and Gabby Waxman

Adaptations of ShakespeareAdaptations of Shakespeare Broadway Musicals: “The Broadway Musicals: “The

Taming of the Shrew” became Taming of the Shrew” became “Kiss me Kate,” and “Romeo “Kiss me Kate,” and “Romeo and Juliet” became “West Side and Juliet” became “West Side Story”Story”

Books: “King Lear” became Books: “King Lear” became A A Thousand AcresThousand Acres by Jane by Jane Smiley, and books such as Smiley, and books such as Brave New WorldBrave New World and and The The Sound and the FurySound and the Fury borrow borrow their titles from their titles from Shakespearean quotations.Shakespearean quotations.

Television: “Othello” appears Television: “Othello” appears on Masterpiece Theater, on Masterpiece Theater, “Hamlet” appears on Gilligan’s “Hamlet” appears on Gilligan’s IslandIsland

Familiar QuotesFamiliar Quotes

““To thine own self be true”To thine own self be true”

““Double, double, toil and Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble”cauldron bubble”

““O brave new world, that has O brave new world, that has such people in it!”such people in it!”

“ “ All the world’s a stage, and All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women are all the men and women are merely players.”merely players.”

And of course the And of course the unforgettable:unforgettable:

““To be, or not to be, that is the To be, or not to be, that is the question.”question.”

Why Borrow From Why Borrow From Shakespeare?Shakespeare?

Quotations so familiar to a wide Quotations so familiar to a wide audience, whether they have read audience, whether they have read Shakespeare or not.Shakespeare or not.

A “credible” source for quoting, rather A “credible” source for quoting, rather than Rocky and Bullwinklethan Rocky and Bullwinkle

Heightens the authors writing by Heightens the authors writing by bringing to mind specific characters or bringing to mind specific characters or situations. For example, Hamlet instead situations. For example, Hamlet instead of a generic tragic hero figure.of a generic tragic hero figure.

Classically humorous or tragic stories Classically humorous or tragic stories that can be adapted to endless places that can be adapted to endless places and time periods.and time periods.

What’s in it for the reader’s?What’s in it for the reader’s?

The new writer has his The new writer has his own agenda, her own own agenda, her own slant to put on things. slant to put on things.

Our understanding of both Our understanding of both works becomes richer and works becomes richer and deeper as we hear the deeper as we hear the dialogue played out.dialogue played out.

The imagination in The imagination in question is not just for the question is not just for the writer’s, but also for the writer’s, but also for the reader’s.reader’s.

……OOrr the the

BBible.ible.Chapter Seven, or How Everything Ever is Really a Biblical Allusion

As explained by

Thomas C. Foster

--Biblical allusions used Biblical allusions used by writers, poets, by writers, poets, playwrights, etc.playwrights, etc.

-Employ Biblical -Employ Biblical languagelanguage

-Often reference or -Often reference or parallel Bible parallel Bible stories/parables stories/parables (e.g., Garden of (e.g., Garden of Eden/The Fall, Eden/The Fall, Apocalypse, The Apocalypse, The Prodigal Son, Cain Prodigal Son, Cain and Abel)and Abel)

- Utilize Biblical names- Utilize Biblical names-Derive titles from -Derive titles from

applicable bible applicable bible versesverses

-Sacred texts of other religions are often used as well -Sacred texts of other religions are often used as well (e.g., (e.g., The Satanic VersesThe Satanic Verses, a parody of the Koran), a parody of the Koran)

-Identify reference as a possible biblical allusion if it -Identify reference as a possible biblical allusion if it seems to resonate outside of its functional contextseems to resonate outside of its functional context

-Used to foster a sense of universality; create pathos-Used to foster a sense of universality; create pathos

Literary ReferencesLiterary References The BibleThe Bible

Pulp FictionPulp Fiction – Quentin Tarantino – Quentin Tarantino East of EdenEast of Eden –John Steinbeck –John Steinbeck BelovedBeloved ; ; Song of SolomonSong of Solomon – Toni Morrison – Toni Morrison Pale RiderPale Rider – Clint Eastwood – Clint Eastwood ArabyAraby – James Joyce – James Joyce Tongues of FlameTongues of Flame – Tim Parks – Tim Parks Absalom, Absalom!Absalom, Absalom! ; ; Go Down, MosesGo Down, Moses – William Faulkner – William Faulkner The Sun Also RisesThe Sun Also Rises – Ernest Hemingway – Ernest Hemingway Paradise LostParadise Lost ; ; Paradise RegainedParadise Regained ; ;Samson AgonistesSamson Agonistes – – John Milton John Milton BeowulfBeowulf Sir Gawain and the Green KnightSir Gawain and the Green Knight The Faerie QueenThe Faerie Queen – Edmund Spenser – Edmund Spenser The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales – Geoffrey Chaucer – Geoffrey Chaucer Four QuartetsFour Quartets;; The Waste LandsThe Waste Lands;;

Journey of the MagiJourney of the Magi ; ; Ash WednesdayAsh Wednesday - T. S. - T. S. Eliot Eliot The Pentecost CastleThe Pentecost Castle; ; CanaanCanaan – Geoffrey Hill – Geoffrey Hill Yom KippurYom Kippur – Adrienne Rich – Adrienne Rich The Satanic VersesThe Satanic Verses – Salman Rushdie – Salman Rushdie Why I Live at the P.O.Why I Live at the P.O. – Eudora Welty – Eudora Welty Sonny’s BluesSonny’s Blues ; ; Go Tell it on the MountainGo Tell it on the Mountain – James Baldwin – James Baldwin

How to Read Literature How to Read Literature Like A ProfessorLike A Professor::

Ch.8 – Ch.8 – Hanseldee and Hanseldee and GreteldumGreteldum

Jennifer DadyJennifer Dady

andand

Katie SmithKatie Smith

Works MentionedWorks MentionedWorks that DON’T

WorkWorks that DO Work Successful

Works that Work

Ghostbusters (no one is going to know it in 100 years)The Illiad (people don’t care about Troy anymore)Shakespeare (too highbrow, all good quotes already taken)James Joyce (too complicated)T.S. Elliot (all of his quotes come from somewhere else already)

Kiddie lit in generalAlice in WonderlandTreasure IslandNarnia novelsThe Wind in the WillowsThe Cat in the HatGoodnight MoonGreen Eggs and Ham“Snow White”“Sleeping Beauty”“Hansel and Gretel” (ALWAYS a favorite, people identify with it)Non-Kiddie Lit that could potentially work: Bible, Shakespeare, Dante, Milton

Blind Faith song, “Can’t Find My Way Home” (based on H&G)Robert Coover’s story, “The Gingerbread House” (plays off original story which everyone knows, then switches it up. Story ends when children reach the gingerbread house.)Angela Carter’s collection of stories, “The Bloody Chamber” (takes classic fairy tales – Puss-in-Boots, Little Red Riding Hood, etc – and shows how sexist they were, as was the society who embraced the stories)

Why Kiddie Lit WorksWhy Kiddie Lit Works

Very Iconic – multigenerational and Very Iconic – multigenerational and multiculturalmulticultural

Has been around for ever and will Has been around for ever and will continue to exist forevercontinue to exist forever

Very unambiguous – you know who Very unambiguous – you know who you like and who you don’t. Bad is you like and who you don’t. Bad is bad, and good is good; there is no in bad, and good is good; there is no in between. (ex. Snow White and the between. (ex. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves)Seven Dwarves)

How a Well Written Story How a Well Written Story Incorporates Kiddie LiteratureIncorporates Kiddie Literature

o Same elements (ex. Lost young rich couple Same elements (ex. Lost young rich couple who’s BMW breaks down in an unknown city who’s BMW breaks down in an unknown city outside of a crackhouse; parallels to Hansel outside of a crackhouse; parallels to Hansel and Gretel)and Gretel)

o a story that is completely knew, but still a story that is completely knew, but still comfortingly familiarcomfortingly familiar

o IronyIronyo When you catch a comparison to kiddie lit, you When you catch a comparison to kiddie lit, you

ask why. What comparison is the author ask why. What comparison is the author trying to make? What is he trying to make trying to make? What is he trying to make you realize?you realize?

Myth is a body of story that matters.

By speaking in “myth” in general is story. The ability of story to explain ourselves to ourselves in ways in which physics, philosophy, mathematics and chemistry cannot.

The patterns present in mythology run deeply in the human consciousness.

When most of think myth, most think of the northern shores between the Mediterranean between two and three thousand years ago. We mean Greece and Rome.

Greek and Roman myth is so much apart of the fabric of our consciousness and our unconscious.

It’s Greek to me

What authors do is they put their characters in situations where their nobility and courage are put to the test while reminding us they are acting out some of the most basic, most primal patterns known to humans exactly as authors such as Homer did centuries before.

Homer gives four great struggles of the human being: with nature, with the divine, with other humans, and with ourselves.

The need to protect one’s family: Hector

The need to maintain one’s dignity: Achilles

The determination to remain faithful and to have faith: Penelope

The struggle to return home: Odysseus

Metamorphoses by Ovid

Odyssey and Iliad by Homer

Bearheart: The Heirship Chronicles by Gerald Vizenor

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

Yellow Woman by Leslie Marmon Silko

Omeros by Derek Walcott

Myth is a body of story that matters.

The question we will inevitably ask is, Why?

What he can do though is he can put them where their nobility and courage are put to the test while reminding us they are acting out some of the most basic, most primal patterns known to humans exactly as Homer did all those centuries before.

The need to protect one’s family: Hector

The need to maintain one’s dignity: Achilles

The determination to remain faithful and to have faith; Penelope

The struggle to return home; Odysseus

Homer gives us four great struggles of the human being: with nature, with the divine, with other humans, and with ourselves.

Chapter 10 Chapter 10 It’s More Than Just It’s More Than Just

Rain or SnowRain or Snow

By: Tye Buckley & Derek By: Tye Buckley & Derek RandolphRandolph

The theme of weather is questioned in The theme of weather is questioned in chapter ten to hold dual meanings. A chapter ten to hold dual meanings. A prime example is the worn out first prime example is the worn out first line: “It was a dark and stormy line: “It was a dark and stormy night.” However, is it simply just night.” However, is it simply just rain? The answered is exposed: rain? The answered is exposed: “It’s “It’s never just rain.”never just rain.”

Rain has historically made it attempts to drive Rain has historically made it attempts to drive humanity back to see when consider in biblical humanity back to see when consider in biblical terms: such as Noah’s ark and God’s promise terms: such as Noah’s ark and God’s promise never to flood the earth again in creating the never to flood the earth again in creating the rainbow. However, rain can do a lot more. “That rainbow. However, rain can do a lot more. “That dark and stormy evening has worlds of dark and stormy evening has worlds of atmosphere and mood.” Rain, or the weather atmosphere and mood.” Rain, or the weather established in the work, bridges and extends established in the work, bridges and extends metaphors yet to be discovered and somehow, metaphors yet to be discovered and somehow, maintains responsibility for even the actions of maintains responsibility for even the actions of the characters. The weather, in summary the characters. The weather, in summary completes the overall theme established by the completes the overall theme established by the author. author.

Rain, snow, sleet, fog, the rainbow. All Rain, snow, sleet, fog, the rainbow. All of these contain duality in with their of these contain duality in with their ability to both sustain literal meaning ability to both sustain literal meaning and convey complex metaphors. and convey complex metaphors. Thus, weather remains a most Thus, weather remains a most important aspect of any successful important aspect of any successful work. “For now, though, one does well work. “For now, though, one does well to remember, as one stars reading a to remember, as one stars reading a poem or story, to check the weather.”poem or story, to check the weather.”