2017-18 AP LIT READING BLOG

Foster explains how using examples from other texts not only enhances the value of the text that is being read but to put a circle effect on literature in general. While writing “How to Read Literature like a professor”, Foster uses many examples from many different books to try and explain himself in a different way. The reader could have background knowledge on the texts he uses as examples which makes his argument stronger. For instance, one of the many examples he uses from another text is on page three when he references to the book, Thomas Pynchon’s: “Crying of Lot 49 (1965). He further explains the plot of the novel, so that people who have not read this book can understand the connection he is trying to make to his claim. An example that is shown in many other texts is the idea that three is the magic number. It is portrayed mostly in fairytales like, Sleeping Beauty with the three fairy godmothers looking after her, Aladdin when the genie allows three wish...

            The relationship between a reader and a writer is very crucial . When Foster states that “reading is an event of the imagination..” he is suggesting that any text maybe perceived differently because of our imagination. When the reader begins to read a book, their imagination becomes engaged with the writer’s. The reader begins to attempt to understand the main idea or message that the writer is attempting to get across. When the reader is focused on a piece of literature and reading they develop a feel for the book and a certain connection with the way it is written. When this connection is made, the reader’s imagination is strongly engaged with the writer’s. The process of writing is to figure out how to create the connection between the writing and the reader’s imagination. As a writer, if the connection is clear and easily made then the reader will have no problem or trouble understanding. For the engagement to work, both the reader and writ...

King Solomon wrote “There is nothing new under the sun.” This saying can be perceived in different ways, but the way Foster viewed it changed my perception of reading for good. Foster says that all writing belongs to one big story. Saying this he is implying that, there is only one big story made up of all the literary works of history, that every single new piece of literature is added to the story and looks similar to the first couple of chapters. The new chapters look similar to the old ones because all new writing has similarities and parts that resemble the original works. Some authors even draw their ideas for books from other authors previous works. Just as history repeats itself, so does writing. Knowing that all books are somewhat similar, but also completely different makes is amazing. This information also makes me realize how brilliant some authors are. They came up with such amazing pieces that they are still read today, and other authors are inspired by them to make thei...

By the "language of reading" and "grammar of literature," Foster means understanding all the textual connections on a deeper level insinuated by the author. There is reading, and there is understanding. Understanding is taking the reading to a closer level and analyzing the actual point. To truly speak the "language of reading," it is necessary to read and be knowledgeable on all sorts of books and ideas to make the deeper connections that could be easily overlooked. That is important for this type of discussion in the book because he is teaching how to read literature in the same manner as a professor would by tying the little pieces together to create the bigger picture to look at. A high level of intelligence is required to think of these bigger pictures and discover how it works. In chapter six, he discusses multiple situations where a character is similar to Jesus Christ or a Bible figure, but anyone lacking in Bible studies would have missed these c...

Ambiguity comes into play in a reader's experience when the reader stumbles upon something that is open to more than one interpretation whether that be in a book, play, or document that does not clearly state one specific meaning of a phrase, sentence, or passage. Ambiguity could be the author describing the ending to a book but leaves out the details of what happens next. An example would be in the book The Awakening, the main character dies at the end but it is unclear whether it is intentional or the fault of the strong tides. In this case the author leaves it up for the reader to decide based on behavior throughout the book the the reader's own opinions. Within paintings and other abstract types of art ambiguity is constantly shown. In the painting, Starry Night many believe that van Gogh was in a mental hospital when drawing this and that he did not really see this in the sky because he was going insane. Other say that Starry Night was painted because that is what van G...

When Foster discusses the language of reading he is talking about the rules, guidelines, and methods readers use to understand the writer. Some authors have distinct patterns to their writing that they use to communicate between the reader and himself or just the choice of grammar the author chooses. The grammar of literature almost the same thing but it focuses on specific tools the reader uses to decode the patterns the author is applying to his writing in order for the reader to understand the piece. These are important for the kind of reading he is discussing in the book because the book is centered around learning to read literature and the methods authors often incorporate in their books that most non professors would not understand. By Foster breaking down the language and grammar of reading he is giving readers an inside look into the minds of authors and how they incorporate things into their book knowing that only really avid readers of literature will comprehend. This type...

How to Read Literature like a Professor functions as the stepping stones in creating a fully rounded and deeper understanding of texts people may be exposed to in the future.  In writing the novel, Foster uses each chapter to build the reader’s understanding of symbols frequently discussed by authors in literature.  In the same way Foster organizes his novel, becoming literate can mirror the same process because overtime a reader can connect more novels and themes together in order to build a more thorough understanding of the text.  He refers to the process as “intertextuality.”   All authors maintain certain levels of symbolism and structure, no matter what text one is currently reading; therefore, if a reader has an extensive understanding of texts beyond the one they are discussing, they will be able to comprehend the significance of the story and have an easier time exposing the author’s symbols.  If a reader understands the basic structure of the nov...