For this week I've asked that you read chapters 11-15. Please generate your responses in a similar fashion to those of last week. Choose at least two ideas to connect to prior reading. Remember to try to go a little deeper into the analysis of WHY that particular technique is used and what effect it creates. Try to vary your examples a bit more, although I understand that your repertoire of reading may be somewhat limited. Just do the best you can. I have enjoyed the posts so far. You all seem to be on the right track, so keep up the good work!
This weeks chapters have been on the less liked subjects for me. I do not do well with finding symbols or politics in any sort of book. But after reading these chapters, maybe if I consentrate hard enough on a piece of work maybe I could find symbols or political references. As for symolism it is a relief to know that if it looks like a symbol to you or seems to have a deeper meaning enough to represent one than it is a symbol. That makes refering to symobols in the books that I read so much easier to discover. For instance, a series that is called "Avalon:Magic Web" about three girls who find these magic stones that give them powers to fight off an evil queen in an alternate dimension has a few symbols that come to mind. One are the stones. Yes they give the girls their own special powers according to their personalities but they also stand for the unbreakable bond that is formed between the girls and their animal guides. It is like the charm bracelets or simple bracelets that are given to one another by a friend at school or something along those lines. Though the girls did not give each other these bracelets it is a symble of their willpower to fight and to know that they are not alone in the quest to defeat the queen. The power that they have in these stones are only intensified when bonded together to for a band of magic light and finally defeat the evil queen in the sixth book. These books are only childrens books but they hold a lesson in their pages that if looked hard enough can be discovered. The stones are the main symbol for that lesson, friendship. As for politics, it took me some thinking before I could piece the puzzles in books I've read and see that, true most books do have something to do with politics whether it be obivious or not. I'm going to use another series of six books to illustrate this "nearly all writing is political on some level" concept. The series are called "On the Run" by George Korman and are about a brother and sister running from the law. Their parents are scientists working for the government and are convicted of a felony they did not commit. The kids are put on a prison farm because their other family members are ashamed of them now. So the kids escape and a detective is sent after them. Not only do they have to deal with the law they also have an assasin trying to kill them. The two siblings know that their parents are not to blame and are trying to find out the truth and someone is on to them. It is a thrilling series that hints at corruptness in the political system of the U.S. Government and conspiracies that are rumered to be going on with the military and within the government. It is not a major political issue and only hints at possible political faults but it does speak up alot about how corrupt the system of judgement and jails and other federal works are corrupt and possible against what the Revolutionary War won us. This series was also meant for childrens chapter book reading but it is amazing that I can now pick out some key points that the author may have been trying to convey about our political system and maybe the author was trying to allow the next generation some time to think of how to change those corrupt ways. I look forward to speaking next week and letting you know how the book is further helping me.
The next five chapters of “How to Read Literature Like a Professor” included many topics that interest me including, violence, Christ, symbols, political aspects, and flying.
In Chapter 11, “…More than It’s Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence,” Foster states that, “Violence is one of the most personal and even intimate acts between human beings” (page 88). This statement reminded me of the “Alex Rider” book series that I have read multiple times. To give you a little background on the book, a young teen, Alex Rider, lives with his uncle, Ian, who he thinks works at a bank. After his uncle is killed one day, the truth is told to Alex that his uncle and his parents were spies working for M-I6, a special intelligence agency. Alex is put to work for the agency as a teen spy. Throughout the novels, Alex faces a lot of violence and even has to kill others just to survive.
I mainly read these novels between the seventh and tenth grades. I just simply thought that the violence in the books were just…violence. However, looking back on the text with a new perspective gained through what insight Foster gives us, I notice that the violence had a deeper meaning – to show the many evils that our world faces and has to overcome daily. Violence is everywhere. Just turn on the television and you will see many acts of violence – war, robberies, etc.
This also takes me to the poem “Out, Out—” by Robert Frost. This past year in English III Honors, we read this poem and outlined the underlying violence in the text. Frost explores the themes of life and death through investigating violence. Also, Mrs. Hall explained the meaning of the title, as it related to a line in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.”
In Chapter 12, “Is That a Symbol,” Foster states that almost anything in a novel can be a symbol; it just depends upon who is looking at it. One thing in a book might be a symbol to me, but not to you. In “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain, both Jim and Huck travel along the Mississippi River. Supposed to symbolize freedom for both characters, it’s actually a symbol of both danger and safety. After flooding occurs along the river, Huck’s father, Pap, dies as a result. On another note, it represents a symbol of peace, tranquility, and freedom. Jim and Huck get to know each other as they travel down the river on a raft, like a car on a road.
I absolutely enjoy reading this nonfiction work each week because you never know what Foster is going to talk about next. Occasionally, he “throws” in a work that I have read before, making it easier to relate and parallel the issues that he is talking about to real life works of literature that I have read.
These next five chapters were pretty good, except I didn't really understand Chapter 11.
I'd like to talk about symbols in a book. I sometimes do have trouble recognizing what the symbols are in a book. Chapter 12 "Is that a symbol" gives a few examples. I think that in the novels we read, we don't recognize every symbol the author puts in there. Probably just the more obvious ones, that the author uses a lot and keeps making connection to. The reason for symbols is of course to symbolize something. What I didn't know was that actions could also be a symbol. In "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", the Mississippi river and the raft they traveled on symbolized their freedom and safety. Huck and Jim traveled down it to get their freedom and every time they were in trouble they went for the raft, their safety. I think an author uses these symbols to give a deeper meaning to the story and to have it stand for something throughout the whole book making certain characters involved in it. Like the Mississippi river wouldn't have been freedom for just any other character in the book, as it was for Huck and Jim. Symbols make readers dig deeper into the story and understand it more than just a single thing. It causes a deeper meaning connecting it to life.
Reading further I couldn't think of any Christ figures in the books I've read. But Chapter 15 "Flight of Fancy" was about flying characters. Foster states that the character doesn't have to physically fly but the character's soul could soar, which you can't say about anybody else in the novel. That made me think of "The Scarlet Letter". Hester was very different from all the character. First she committed adultery, which would make her different for life. Then after the way she dressed, acted towards the other townspeople just made her soul soar differently from the rest. I thought that made her "fly" because she was the only character like that.
This nonfiction work continues to surprise me. It is really making mee think about the novels I am reading or have read.
In Chapter 12, "Is That a Symbol?," Fosters states how anything could be a symbol it just depends on the way you individually look at it. How you interpret a symbol depends on your experiences and way of thinking. As I read this I started thinking about some The Great Gatsby because that novel to me had so much symbolism. When I read the book I thought Jay Gatsbys enormous house. I always thought the author used this as a symbol of Gatsby hiding in his loneliness and insecurity. It also masked the front of confidence he put on for his "friends". This example of symbolism may not have been the prime example sparknotes might give, but Foster made me grasp that if it helps me realize what the author is trying to get across better than it is a symbol. We all have our own way of reading into symbols
In Chapter 15, "Flight of Fancy," Foster talks about flying characters. Characters do not have to physically fly to be in this classification. It's more a characters soul soaring to great heights. This automatically made me think of Pearl in "The Scarlet Letter". Pearl was the free spirited, wild daughter of Hester. She moved to her own beat and didn't listen to anyone. She was thought of as a symbol of the devil and sin which automatically gave her the effect of free spirited. She was nothing like the other children her age or anyone else in the town. Pearl was the free spirited "flying" soul the author needed to add life to the novel.
I am hoping i am on the right track with my comments and cant wait for the next chapters.
I enjoyed these five chapters more than the last ten. This book keeps surprising me every time I read it. These chapters were more about what I have in the past, especially the ones about violence and symbols.
Chapter 11 entitled "...More Than It's Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence," reminded me of the violence in "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Violence in this book is used to illustrate the hollowness and carelessness of the rich and wealthy. A violent act is portrayed in every chapter of the novel but one. When Gatsby and Daisy hit Myrtle with Tom's car and then don't even stop, this shows how careless and irresponsible the rich were. The accident that killed Myrtle Wilson was senseless and reckless and it was the result of torn up nerves and a distracted mind. Daisy did not watch out nor did she stop, investigate, or try to explain herself. We also see this when Tom hits Myrtle and breaks her nose when she makes him mad. Lastly when George shoots and kills Gatsby in his pool, we see how largely violence was used as a tool in this novel.
Also, in Chapter 12, "Is That a Symbol," I recalled several books I have read in the past that had symbols that I did not pick up on when I read them the first time. When we had to read "Death of a Saleman" for Honors English II summer reading, I did not realize that the seeds Willy tried planting represented his failed attempts to make a good life for him and his family or that they represented the opportunity for Willy to prove his worth as a salesman and more importantly,as a father. Before I thought the seeds were just Willy's pitiful attempt to cultivate a little garden in his backyard and that he just failed. It never really occurred until I had to complete the Major Works Data Sheet for it that they could have had a deeper meaning.
This book is still interesting to me. I am learning already a lot about critical reading that I didn't know before. I believe that reading this book will help us this upcoming year in AP English.
The topics discussed in chapters 11-15, for me, were not as interesting as chapters 1-10, but they are still very informative.
In chapter 12 (Is that a symbol?) Foster mentions a novel called Animal Farm by George Orwell and made me remember 1984, which I read a couple of years ago, and the major symbol presented through out the novel. Big Brother is somewhat of a character, very prominent in this book. He primarily represents a symbol of fear that can see everything no matter how private they are. He knows everything no matter how hidden they are. Through the use of Big Brother and other themes and symbols in this book, Orwell's messege is how a corrupt government can deprive an indiviual of their freedom, and thus their dignity.
In chapter 14 (yes, She's a christ figure, too) mentions The Old Man and the Sea by Earnest Hemmingway, which actually the book that I was relating the chapter too, before he mentioned it, and was excited that he mentioned the example that came to my mind through my reading. When Santiago's hands are cut from his fishing line, Hemmingway makes a parallel between him and Christ. This is just one of the many examples of the alikeness between Santiago and Christ.
This is a very interesting book, and I have a feeling Im going to benefit from it a lot.
Chapter 12 entitled "Is That a Symbol?" Foster states that many things can actually be a symbol. What may be a symbol to one person, could be pointless to another. This chapter made me think of Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. Death of a Salesman is about Willy Loman, a salesman who is all about living the American Dream. He has big dreams for himself and his children, but they never come true. One huge symbol in the book was diamonds. In the book Willys brother, Ben, goes to Alaska and finds diamonds. This guarantees his financial security for life. Willy did not go and he missed out on the diamonds. To Willy the diamonds obviously represent wealth, which is included in his American Dream. But the diamonds are also there to show Willys failure as a salesman as he got older and the dreams he never achieved. Ben tells Willy to make his dream come true. This includes commiting suicide so his insurance money would go to his two children so they could achieve the dream their dad wanted for them.
In Chapter 14, 'Yes, She's a Christ Figure, Too" the example used by Foster was The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. I read this book a few years ago but I didnt relate the old man, Santiago, to Christ. This chapter talked about Christ's life and book characters that were created to share some of the same characteristics. Santiago related to Christ in several ways. The chapter included a list of things Christ experienced throught his life. The list mentiones Christ spending time alone in the wilderness. The sea was Santiagos wilderness. Santiago also experienced grea suffering. He compared to Christ in several other ways as well. This chapter opened my eyes. I never would have thought the old man compared to Christ. I'm sure there are many characters in books I have read that relate to Christ. Now that I have read this book I will be able to recognize the characters in future books I read.
I have really enjoyed reading your comments this week! Thanks to all of you - you have obviously been thinking about the reading and trying to apply to things you've read. I like the fact that you are connecting to the works Foster mentions, but you are also digging back to some other prior reading and recognizing some elements that you may not have considered before. Great job!! Terry, I am so glad you brought up the idea of irony in your post. It is EXTREMELY important that we are reading carefully for irony. On the AP exam (and in real life), it is critical to understand when an author is employing irony and sometimes it is so subtle that we can miss it!! Courtney, I had forgotten about Walk Two Moons until I read your post. What a great example of a quest. And I like your connection of the Odyssey to the Eragon book. Making those connections is going to prove very valuable in AP Lit. Cassandra, I really liked your comments about the stones and how you connected those to friendship bracelets. Don't worry that the texts you are discussing are young adult books. Sometimes we have to start with texts that are familiar to really begin to see how these patterns work. And although I haven't read the On the Run series you mentioned, it sounds like the author is making a conscious point about the political system. Authors use their texts to criticize the world around them, so novels are used as political commentaries all the time. Good job! Trent: The Alex Rider books sound interesting. Have you ever pondered the significance of his name? Think about the connotations of riding and how those are suggested by his character and what happens to him in the series. Christina: I like how you connected the idea of flying to the metaphorical flying of Hester in Scarlet Letter, and then Katherine Anne also connected this idea to Pearl. You are right on target. That's great! I also liked the references to Gatsby and his house as a symbolic element. Josh, thanks for mentioning Death of a Salesman, which is FULL of wonderfully rich symbolism. The seeds are definitely rich with meaning as they represent growth and the fecundity that Willy never can seem to muster. Kelly, you also mentioned Death of a Salesman and the diamonds that represented both wealth and success and failure. Nicely done. You guys obviously had good discussions about this book with Mrs. Hall. Brittany, After reading several comments about A Light in August, I have decided that I must read this book! I am a huge Faulkner fan, but I have not read this one. It sounds like a fun and challenging read, kind of like a puzzle where you have to put together all the symbolic clues in the names and events to decipher meaning. I also loved The Secret Life of Bees and I like how you connect the drowning of May to both the ideas of violence and cleansing that Foster mentions. Amanda, I'm glad you referenced 1984. Orwell is famous for his political statements and this is a good example. Big Brother is such a timeless symbol. There are so many references even today that allude to this character.
I am so excited to begin reading our fictional works so we can apply some of Foster's ideas to our analysis.
For this week, I'd like to discuss chapters 18-26 on the blog. I think I'll save discussion of the test case for when we convene as a class. I think you are doing a great job with connections to other novels, and I'd like you to continue doing this and analyzing HOW authors use the elements Foster discusses. But I'd also like you to response to 2-3 of the comments that have already been posted by other bloggers. I don't want you to merely agree or disagree with what people are saying, I'd like for you to createa kind of dialogue within the blog instead of each person's post standing alone.
Next week I will still post on Monday, but we will take a break from reading and posting until the following week so you can catch up on reading or go on vacation or focus on other things for the 4th of July. Then we'll jump into our discussion of Their Eyes Were Watching God.
As always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns. My personal email is williamsholly@hotmail.com if you don't feel comfortable leaving a question on the blog.
Hey Mrs. Hollifield ; ) I'm still on vacation and traveling back down the east coast this time, but after this week I should be caught back up for the rest of the summer.
The first chapter for this week that I found interesting was chapter 12, Is That a Symbol? One of the things that I really liked about this chapter is that he stresses the point that a symbol can mean different things to different people, it all depends on your background, what you have read before, and your point of view. One of the things that I had a problem with in Mrs. Halls class was that I didn't view symbols the same way as she did or pick out the same ones as being important. When we read The Great Gatsby I saw the names of the towns (West Egg and East Egg) as being important while she saw the green light as more important. I agreed that the light was a symbol, but since I had written about the towns instead I got points off. I thought that the names of the towns showed how easily separated people are and how fragile the society is, like an egg. When I'm reading I often don't think of things the same way as everyone else, especially with poetry, so I really liked Foster's view on symbols.
In chapter 11, "...More than it's Gonna Hurt You..." Foster says, "Violence is one of the most personal and even intimate acts between human beings.." (page 88). This statement reminds me of the novel "Light in August" To me this statement just screams out Joe Christmas. In the novel he killed many people. After being hurt by the people he was close to, both physically and mentally, he began hurting people that he was close to. When he was younger he killed his foster father when he got upset, but his father had also been hurting him his entire childhood. When Christmas grew up and made his way to the town where he met Joanna Burden (whose name could also be a symbol) he formed a strange relationship with her. They were intimate in many ways, physically and mentally. Near the end of the novel Christmas and Joanna both tried to kill each other, Christmas a good bit more successful. After trying to share her religion with him and getting refused Joanna tried to shoot Joe and then herself. Christmas saw what she was doing and killed her first. After someone passing threw found Joanna dead and a reward was offered Joe's only friend tried to turn him in. Once Christmas was found his own grandfather wanted to kill him himself, because he thought Christmas had African American in him. To me this novel showed how intimate violence can be better than almost any other novel.
Courtney, that's so funny because I was about to include a little discussion about East/West Egg in a recent post. I think your point is valid and it's problematic in regard to the AP exam. I've always thought it quite a paradox to have to answer 55 mulitiple choice questions about the interpretation of literature. MULTIPLE CHOICE??? ABOUT INTERPRETATION?? That's just so weird to me. Anyway, just wanted to point out that I'm glad you're sticking to your interpretive guns. It's good to challenge others' views and present a case for your own. That exercises your critical reading chops. Nice job.
As I continue to read this book, I begin to understand more as to why authors use certain elements or events in their writing. This week included acts of violence, symbols, the much dreaded politics, Christ, and flying.
Chapter 11 "...More Than It's Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence" reminded me of, yet again, Ethan Frome. Acts of violence can include shooting, stabbing, poisoning, and in this case, trying to commit suicide. Mattie wanted for her and Ethan to sled into a tree to avoid the possibility of ever leaving each other. They try killing themselves in order to live freely together. His act of violence represented escape from the harsh realities of the world and his inability to make his own decisions. He conforms to society and what others think. He has no control in his marriage with Zeena, has no money to go anywhere, and like his family, he will most likely die in Starkfield. He agrees with Mattie's wish because it's his easy way out. It bares no consequesnces. However, he was wrong. Their last ride together was unsuccessful because Ethan misses the tree. As a result, he is now deformed, Mattie is paralyzed, and he must live with these consequences. Violence is used almost always in literature and has some meaning beyond the act itself.
Chapter 15 "Flights of Fancy" reminded me of Emily Dickinson's famous poem, "Hope is the Thing With Feathers." Foster states that in a nutshell, flying represents freedom. The person doesn't necessarily have to fly but their soul can soar. In Dickinson's poem, she compares hope to a bird. A bird in itself represents freedom and a sense of escape and hope because they can fly anywhere they please. Dickinson defines hope as something "with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all." In other words, hope is something that flies. Hope is freedom. Hope is found everywhere.
I'm not sure if my responses meet your requirements, but I hope they do :] If not, please tell me so I can fix them.
I should have read this book in eigth grade!!! lol. The things i could have done with this knowledge prior to my senior year!
As i began reading chapter eleven "...More Than It's Gunnu Hurt You: Concerning Violence" I thought, "There is no way he will miss saying something about William Golding's "Lord Of The Flies." Sadly, i was wrong. Although i found it cool that i was able to automatically pick something out that related to the subject. lol everytime he references a book i have read i say, "YES! I know what he is talking about. I have been here and learned this before and that's exactly what we talked about in ms.so and so's class." sorry. sidetracted. Back back to the novel. Lord of the Flies is engrained with violence and hatred. Reading it only having completed one year of high school i was somewhat oblivious to why anyone would write such a horid, immoral story. Now i know. On more levels than just skimming the surface in class too. Foster says violence is not incorporated into novels for nothing and not always staightforwardly. After reading this chapter and my confused thoughts on Lord of the flies i began rethinking it. Epiphany lightbulbs went off in my head. Golding's use of violence shows us civilty versus savagery. But on a deeper note, one i missed in my first look, Human instinct. wow. What a relief. I feel that book has not been read in vain now ;)
But wait there's more. Lord of the Flies is substantially more important than i ever imagined. Chapter 12, "Is That a Symbol?" has opened my views to symbols and symbolism. When foster stated the first sentance, i took a deep breath. I will no longer be timid and, i admit, somewhat fearfull of symbolism. Foster has enlightened me that symbolism is wide open!! Until now, I've always thought that symbolism is simply symbolism. It's there and your simply supposed to see it. He gives great techniques on how to catch it and what to look for using great examples. Lord of the flies is full of symbols. Symbols that if not caught or missed can easily lead into confusion for a great deal of the novel. Piggy's glasses were supposed to represent science and intelligence. I think ( my own view) they can also symbolize civilization. Eventually when the boys have gone completely savage, piggy's glasses break. All hopes of civilty are gone. Hey, Foster says i can think that so why not. Also i could go into a whole seperate discussuion about how chapter 13 "It's All Political" ties into "Lord of The Flies" with the whole Law vs. Anarchy theme but as i have said i think that's a whole seperate discussion.
Lord of the Flies would have been a perfect novel for Foster to slip into "How to Read Literature Like a Professor". It relates to many of his theories, laws, and facts.
By the way, I am truly enjoying this book and can't wait to see the future benefeits it holds. I've already tied it to past books I've read.
Okay, well these chapters aren't as good as i thought they would be. But they aren't that bad.
In chapter 11, More Than It's Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence made me think about Ethan Frome. When Ethan and Mattie decide to hit the big tree at the bottom of the hill so they could be together, but they ended up alive and scarred for life. Foster quotes, "the specific injury that authors cause characters to visit on one another or on themselves" (page 89). As soon as I read that I said to myself, "Ethan Frome". It also reminds me of The Great Gatsby. There is violence everywhere in the novel. When Tom hits Myrtle in the face because she wouldn't stop saying Daisy's name, and when George came and shot Jay and then himself because Tom had told him that Jay killed his wife. Even though Jay's death didn't have an affect on any of the other characters it still involves death of a character and the death of the american dream.
In chapter 12, Is That a Symbol? remionds me of Hick Finn. Just as Foster pointed out in the chapter. There are so many symbols throughout that novel. Like Frost said, "The river is a little bit of everything in the novel". And he is right. I found that out myself after reading the novel. It could mean freedom, death, and it introduces Huck to his maturity and responsibility.
I am enjoying this book so much and it helps alot with other liturature I have read in the past. I can't wait to see what chapters 18-27 have in store for me :)
As I continued reading "How to Read Like a Professor" I gained necessary knowledge to be an informed reader. In chapters ten through fifteen Foster demonstrates a variety of topics found throughout many novels.
Chapter 11- …More Than it’s Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence In chapter eleven Foster helps us understand that violence can be symbolic, thematic, biblical, Shakespearean, or romantic. While reading over this chapter I was thinking about the violence in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” One of the themes in the play is about love being the cause of violence. When Tybalt notices that Romeo has crashed the feast, he is determined to kill him. While, on the other hand, Romeo catches sight of Juliet and falls instantly in love with her. From that point on, the lovers get pushed closer to love and violence, not farther from it. In Act III, Romeo uses a knife from Friar Lawrence’s cell and threatens to kill himself after he is banished from Verona and his love. A few seconds later Juliet tries to take her life by committing suicide in Friar Lawrence’s cell. This continues till the inevitable conclusion of double suicide. This is not the only example of violence in “Romeo and Juliet”, in the first scene of Act I the Montagues and Capulets have a brawl in the streets of Verona.
Chapter 12- Is That a Symbol? In chapter twelve Foster mentions that there is no one definite meaning unless it’s an allegory, where characters, events, and places have a one-on-one correspondence symbolically to other things. For example, the scarlet letter in "The Scarlet Letter" is supposed to represent shame, but it ends up becoming a distinct symbol of Hester’s identity. The meaning of the letter changes from the beginning of the novel to the end. Originally the letter is supposed to be a sign of Hester’s adulterous ways, but towards the end the “A” stands for “Able.” The “A” eventually becomes imprecise. At the Election Day Pageant, the Native Americans that have come to watch think it signifies that the person wearing it is an important person. And last but not least, the letter serves as a reminder of Hester’s affair with Dimmesdale.
I am a huge fan of the "Twilight" series. In the first book, Bella moves to Forks, Washington to live with her dad. There are very few days when it's not raining there. Bella isn't a huge fan of the rain. She falls in love with Edward Cullen, the local vampire. Later in the story, they meet in a beautiful field where the sun seems to shine right through. It's there that they confess their love for each other. Bella was dreading living in Forks, where the weather was always gloomy and somewhat depressing to a lonely teenager. I see this field as a symbol of Bella's long-lost happiness for life. Just when she thought her situation couldn't get any worse, she meets Edward and they find themselves together in this field. The sun shines through the trees and hope is found. She finds happiness in this place that she hasn't felt in a long while.
Chapter 11, "...More Than It's Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence", reminds me of the violence from "The Great Gatsby". The rich are very careless and carefree concerning life. When the characters in this story commit acts of violence, they don't think twice about their actions. Tom casually punches Myrtle and breaks her nose, like men have the right to do with women what they want. Later in the story, Daisy hits Myrtle while driving. She continues on her way, not caring that she just took someone's life away. She goes on living her life as if she's done nothing wrong.
20 comments:
For this week I've asked that you read chapters 11-15. Please generate your responses in a similar fashion to those of last week. Choose at least two ideas to connect to prior reading. Remember to try to go a little deeper into the analysis of WHY that particular technique is used and what effect it creates. Try to vary your examples a bit more, although I understand that your repertoire of reading may be somewhat limited. Just do the best you can. I have enjoyed the posts so far. You all seem to be on the right track, so keep up the good work!
This weeks chapters have been on the less liked subjects for me. I do not do well with finding symbols or politics in any sort of book.
But after reading these chapters, maybe if I consentrate hard enough on a piece of work maybe I could find symbols or political references.
As for symolism it is a relief to know that if it looks like a symbol to you or seems to have a deeper meaning enough to represent one than it is a symbol. That makes refering to symobols in the books that I read so much easier to discover. For instance, a series that is called "Avalon:Magic Web" about three girls who find these magic stones that give them powers to fight off an evil queen in an alternate dimension has a few symbols that come to mind. One are the stones. Yes they give the girls their own special powers according to their personalities but they also stand for the unbreakable bond that is formed between the girls and their animal guides. It is like the charm bracelets or simple bracelets that are given to one another by a friend at school or something along those lines. Though the girls did not give each other these bracelets it is a symble of their willpower to fight and to know that they are not alone in the quest to defeat the queen. The power that they have in these stones are only intensified when bonded together to for a band of magic light and finally defeat the evil queen in the sixth book. These books are only childrens books but they hold a lesson in their pages that if looked hard enough can be discovered. The stones are the main symbol for that lesson, friendship.
As for politics, it took me some thinking before I could piece the puzzles in books I've read and see that, true most books do have something to do with politics whether it be obivious or not. I'm going to use another series of six books to illustrate this "nearly all writing is political on some level" concept. The series are called "On the Run" by George Korman and are about a brother and sister running from the law. Their parents are scientists working for the government and are convicted of a felony they did not commit. The kids are put on a prison farm because their other family members are ashamed of them now. So the kids escape and a detective is sent after them. Not only do they have to deal with the law they also have an assasin trying to kill them. The two siblings know that their parents are not to blame and are trying to find out the truth and someone is on to them. It is a thrilling series that hints at corruptness in the political system of the U.S. Government and conspiracies that are rumered to be going on with the military and within the government. It is not a major political issue and only hints at possible political faults but it does speak up alot about how corrupt the system of judgement and jails and other federal works are corrupt and possible against what the Revolutionary War won us. This series was also meant for childrens chapter book reading but it is amazing that I can now pick out some key points that the author may have been trying to convey about our political system and maybe the author was trying to allow the next generation some time to think of how to change those corrupt ways.
I look forward to speaking next week and letting you know how the book is further helping me.
Yes, I believe that Stellaluna is the children's book I was refering to. Thanks for reminding me!
The next five chapters of “How to Read Literature Like a Professor” included many topics that interest me including, violence, Christ, symbols, political aspects, and flying.
In Chapter 11, “…More than It’s Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence,” Foster states that, “Violence is one of the most personal and even intimate acts between human beings” (page 88). This statement reminded me of the “Alex Rider” book series that I have read multiple times. To give you a little background on the book, a young teen, Alex Rider, lives with his uncle, Ian, who he thinks works at a bank. After his uncle is killed one day, the truth is told to Alex that his uncle and his parents were spies working for M-I6, a special intelligence agency. Alex is put to work for the agency as a teen spy. Throughout the novels, Alex faces a lot of violence and even has to kill others just to survive.
I mainly read these novels between the seventh and tenth grades. I just simply thought that the violence in the books were just…violence. However, looking back on the text with a new perspective gained through what insight Foster gives us, I notice that the violence had a deeper meaning – to show the many evils that our world faces and has to overcome daily. Violence is everywhere. Just turn on the television and you will see many acts of violence – war, robberies, etc.
This also takes me to the poem “Out, Out—” by Robert Frost. This past year in English III Honors, we read this poem and outlined the underlying violence in the text. Frost explores the themes of life and death through investigating violence. Also, Mrs. Hall explained the meaning of the title, as it related to a line in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.”
In Chapter 12, “Is That a Symbol,” Foster states that almost anything in a novel can be a symbol; it just depends upon who is looking at it. One thing in a book might be a symbol to me, but not to you. In “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain, both Jim and Huck travel along the Mississippi River. Supposed to symbolize freedom for both characters, it’s actually a symbol of both danger and safety. After flooding occurs along the river, Huck’s father, Pap, dies as a result. On another note, it represents a symbol of peace, tranquility, and freedom. Jim and Huck get to know each other as they travel down the river on a raft, like a car on a road.
I absolutely enjoy reading this nonfiction work each week because you never know what Foster is going to talk about next. Occasionally, he “throws” in a work that I have read before, making it easier to relate and parallel the issues that he is talking about to real life works of literature that I have read.
These next five chapters were pretty good, except I didn't really understand Chapter 11.
I'd like to talk about symbols in a book. I sometimes do have trouble recognizing what the symbols are in a book. Chapter 12 "Is that a symbol" gives a few examples. I think that in the novels we read, we don't recognize every symbol the author puts in there. Probably just the more obvious ones, that the author uses a lot and keeps making connection to. The reason for symbols is of course to symbolize something. What I didn't know was that actions could also be a symbol. In "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", the Mississippi river and the raft they traveled on symbolized their freedom and safety. Huck and Jim traveled down it to get their freedom and every time they were in trouble they went for the raft, their safety. I think an author uses these symbols to give a deeper meaning to the story and to have it stand for something throughout the whole book making certain characters involved in it. Like the Mississippi river wouldn't have been freedom for just any other character in the book, as it was for Huck and Jim. Symbols make readers dig deeper into the story and understand it more than just a single thing. It causes a deeper meaning connecting it to life.
Reading further I couldn't think of any Christ figures in the books I've read. But Chapter 15 "Flight of Fancy" was about flying characters. Foster states that the character doesn't have to physically fly but the character's soul could soar, which you can't say about anybody else in the novel. That made me think of "The Scarlet Letter". Hester was very different from all the character. First she committed adultery, which would make her different for life. Then after the way she dressed, acted towards the other townspeople just made her soul soar differently from the rest. I thought that made her "fly" because she was the only character like that.
I look forward to reading the next few chapters.
This nonfiction work continues to surprise me. It is really making mee think about the novels I am reading or have read.
In Chapter 12, "Is That a Symbol?," Fosters states how anything could be a symbol it just depends on the way you individually look at it. How you interpret a symbol depends on your experiences and way of thinking. As I read this I started thinking about some The Great Gatsby because that novel to me had so much symbolism. When I read the book I thought Jay Gatsbys enormous house. I always thought the author used this as a symbol of Gatsby hiding in his loneliness and insecurity. It also masked the front of confidence he put on for his "friends". This example of symbolism may not have been the prime example sparknotes might give, but Foster made me grasp that if it helps me realize what the author is trying to get across better than it is a symbol. We all have our own way of reading into symbols
In Chapter 15, "Flight of Fancy," Foster talks about flying characters. Characters do not have to physically fly to be in this classification. It's more a characters soul soaring to great heights. This automatically made me think of Pearl in "The Scarlet Letter". Pearl was the free spirited, wild daughter of Hester. She moved to her own beat and didn't listen to anyone. She was thought of as a symbol of the devil and sin which automatically gave her the effect of free spirited. She was nothing like the other children her age or anyone else in the town. Pearl was the free spirited "flying" soul the author needed to add life to the novel.
I am hoping i am on the right track with my comments and cant wait for the next chapters.
I enjoyed these five chapters more than the last ten. This book keeps surprising me every time I read it. These chapters were more about what I have in the past, especially the ones about violence and symbols.
Chapter 11 entitled "...More Than It's Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence," reminded me of the violence in "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Violence in this book is used to illustrate the hollowness and carelessness of the rich and wealthy. A violent act is portrayed in every chapter of the novel but one. When Gatsby and Daisy hit Myrtle with Tom's car and then don't even stop, this shows how careless and irresponsible the rich were. The accident that killed Myrtle Wilson was senseless and reckless and it was the result of torn up nerves and a distracted mind. Daisy did not watch out nor did she stop, investigate, or try to explain herself. We also see this when Tom hits Myrtle and breaks her nose when she makes him mad. Lastly when George shoots and kills Gatsby in his pool, we see how largely violence was used as a tool in this novel.
Also, in Chapter 12, "Is That a Symbol," I recalled several books I have read in the past that had symbols that I did not pick up on when I read them the first time. When we had to read "Death of a Saleman" for Honors English II summer reading, I did not realize that the seeds Willy tried planting represented his failed attempts to make a good life for him and his family or that they represented the opportunity for Willy to prove his worth as a salesman and more importantly,as a father. Before I thought the seeds were just Willy's pitiful attempt to cultivate a little garden in his backyard and that he just failed. It never really occurred until I had to complete the Major Works Data Sheet for it that they could have had a deeper meaning.
This book is still interesting to me. I am learning already a lot about critical reading that I didn't know before. I believe that reading this book will help us this upcoming year in AP English.
For Chapters 11-15, I attempted to dig beneath the surface so please bare with me. Chapter 11 was like a screaming tribute to Light in August. Foster uses the novel as an example in this chapter and having read it for summer reading last year, this chapter truly allowed me to rethink the meaning of every act of violence the characters encountered and took place in. Joe Christmas is by far one of the most volatile characters I have ever encountered in my reading. It wasn’t until I experienced my first Socratic Seminar in Mrs. Hall’s class that I took a deeper look at Christmas’ behavior. This chapter shows that Faulkner didn’t include Christmas’ violent acts to entertain the reader but to allow the reader to see how damaged Christmas is as a person. He is alone in a racist world and he knows all to well that there is no place for him to belong. All of his life, Christmas is treated as inferior and he never develops that sense of manhood that young boys long for.
He becomes a dangerous outcast, afraid to let anyone near him because he has only been taught that he could never be loved. He shows this several times in the novel; his violence is mainly towards women and I believe this symbolizes the void in his heart in soul from being raised to believe that his own mother didn’t love him and wanted nothing to do with him. Christmas’ violence is reflection of his fear of committing. I know that statement sounds like a cliché when it comes to describing men, but Christmas’ fear goes much deeper than shallow insensitivities. His fear is embedding in his moral code, if you can even call it that. Christmas has been raised to believe that was impossible for anyone to love him.
Chapter 12 talked about symbols and the biggest symbol that stood out the most was the river. Instantly I began to think about Sue Monk Kidd’s novel, The Secret Life of Bees. In the novel, May, one of the main characters commits suicide by drowning herself. May is the soft-hearted character that feels everyone’s pain and when a local teen that works for her sister is falsely accused of a crime, the pain and unfairness is too much for her to bear.
She chooses to end her life in the cleansing waters of the w=river that had brought her peace so many times before. By drowning in the river, I believe may was hoping to cleanse all of those she loved and herself of pain. The river flowed over her body and as it did it cleansed May to her soul. For the first time she was at peace. That’s what I believe a river represents, a chance to escape from troubles. The use of a river to escape is also seen in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. An author never puts action in a river without thinking of the utmost symbolism is can show. Never again will I think of rivers in literature as just rivers, they will be an escape plan for the characters.
The topics discussed in chapters 11-15, for me, were not as interesting as chapters 1-10, but they are still very informative.
In chapter 12 (Is that a symbol?) Foster mentions a novel called Animal Farm by George Orwell and made me remember 1984, which I read a couple of years ago, and the major symbol presented through out the novel. Big Brother is somewhat of a character, very prominent in this book. He primarily represents a symbol of fear that can see everything no matter how private they are. He knows everything no matter how hidden they are. Through the use of Big Brother and other themes and symbols in this book, Orwell's messege is how a corrupt government can deprive an indiviual of their freedom, and thus their dignity.
In chapter 14 (yes, She's a christ figure, too) mentions The Old Man and the Sea by Earnest Hemmingway, which actually the book that I was relating the chapter too, before he mentioned it, and was excited that he mentioned the example that came to my mind through my reading. When Santiago's hands are cut from his fishing line, Hemmingway makes a parallel between him and Christ. This is just one of the many examples of the alikeness between Santiago and Christ.
This is a very interesting book, and I have a feeling Im going to benefit from it a lot.
Chapter 12 entitled "Is That a Symbol?" Foster states that many things can actually be a symbol. What may be a symbol to one person, could be pointless to another. This chapter made me think of Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. Death of a Salesman is about Willy Loman, a salesman who is all about living the American Dream. He has big dreams for himself and his children, but they never come true. One huge symbol in the book was diamonds. In the book Willys brother, Ben, goes to Alaska and finds diamonds. This guarantees his financial security for life. Willy did not go and he missed out on the diamonds. To Willy the diamonds obviously represent wealth, which is included in his American Dream. But the diamonds are also there to show Willys failure as a salesman as he got older and the dreams he never achieved. Ben tells Willy to make his dream come true. This includes commiting suicide so his insurance money would go to his two children so they could achieve the dream their dad wanted for them.
In Chapter 14, 'Yes, She's a Christ Figure, Too" the example used by Foster was The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. I read this book a few years ago but I didnt relate the old man, Santiago, to Christ. This chapter talked about Christ's life and book characters that were created to share some of the same characteristics. Santiago related to Christ in several ways. The chapter included a list of things Christ experienced throught his life. The list mentiones Christ spending time alone in the wilderness. The sea was Santiagos wilderness. Santiago also experienced grea suffering. He compared to Christ in several other ways as well. This chapter opened my eyes. I never would have thought the old man compared to Christ. I'm sure there are many characters in books I have read that relate to Christ. Now that I have read this book I will be able to recognize the characters in future books I read.
I have really enjoyed reading your comments this week! Thanks to all of you - you have obviously been thinking about the reading and trying to apply to things you've read. I like the fact that you are connecting to the works Foster mentions, but you are also digging back to some other prior reading and recognizing some elements that you may not have considered before. Great job!!
Terry, I am so glad you brought up the idea of irony in your post. It is EXTREMELY important that we are reading carefully for irony. On the AP exam (and in real life), it is critical to understand when an author is employing irony and sometimes it is so subtle that we can miss it!!
Courtney, I had forgotten about Walk Two Moons until I read your post. What a great example of a quest. And I like your connection of the Odyssey to the Eragon book. Making those connections is going to prove very valuable in AP Lit.
Cassandra, I really liked your comments about the stones and how you connected those to friendship bracelets. Don't worry that the texts you are discussing are young adult books. Sometimes we have to start with texts that are familiar to really begin to see how these patterns work. And although I haven't read the On the Run series you mentioned, it sounds like the author is making a conscious point about the political system. Authors use their texts to criticize the world around them, so novels are used as political commentaries all the time. Good job!
Trent: The Alex Rider books sound interesting. Have you ever pondered the significance of his name? Think about the connotations of riding and how those are suggested by his character and what happens to him in the series.
Christina: I like how you connected the idea of flying to the metaphorical flying of Hester in Scarlet Letter, and then
Katherine Anne also connected this idea to Pearl. You are right on target. That's great! I also liked the references to Gatsby and his house as a symbolic element.
Josh, thanks for mentioning Death of a Salesman, which is FULL of wonderfully rich symbolism. The seeds are definitely rich with meaning as they represent growth and the fecundity that Willy never can seem to muster.
Kelly, you also mentioned Death of a Salesman and the diamonds that represented both wealth and success and failure. Nicely done. You guys obviously had good discussions about this book with Mrs. Hall.
Brittany, After reading several comments about A Light in August, I have decided that I must read this book! I am a huge Faulkner fan, but I have not read this one. It sounds like a fun and challenging read, kind of like a puzzle where you have to put together all the symbolic clues in the names and events to decipher meaning. I also loved The Secret Life of Bees and I like how you connect the drowning of May to both the ideas of violence and cleansing that Foster mentions.
Amanda, I'm glad you referenced 1984. Orwell is famous for his political statements and this is a good example. Big Brother is such a timeless symbol. There are so many references even today that allude to this character.
I am so excited to begin reading our fictional works so we can apply some of Foster's ideas to our analysis.
For this week, I'd like to discuss chapters 18-26 on the blog. I think I'll save discussion of the test case for when we convene as a class. I think you are doing a great job with connections to other novels, and I'd like you to continue doing this and analyzing HOW authors use the elements Foster discusses. But I'd also like you to response to 2-3 of the comments that have already been posted by other bloggers. I don't want you to merely agree or disagree with what people are saying, I'd like for you to createa kind of dialogue within the blog instead of each person's post standing alone.
Next week I will still post on Monday, but we will take a break from reading and posting until the following week so you can catch up on reading or go on vacation or focus on other things for the 4th of July. Then we'll jump into our discussion of Their Eyes Were Watching God.
As always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns. My personal email is williamsholly@hotmail.com if you don't feel comfortable leaving a question on the blog.
Hey Mrs. Hollifield ; ) I'm still on vacation and traveling back down the east coast this time, but after this week I should be caught back up for the rest of the summer.
The first chapter for this week that I found interesting was chapter 12, Is That a Symbol? One of the things that I really liked about this chapter is that he stresses the point that a symbol can mean different things to different people, it all depends on your background, what you have read before, and your point of view. One of the things that I had a problem with in Mrs. Halls class was that I didn't view symbols the same way as she did or pick out the same ones as being important. When we read The Great Gatsby I saw the names of the towns (West Egg and East Egg) as being important while she saw the green light as more important. I agreed that the light was a symbol, but since I had written about the towns instead I got points off. I thought that the names of the towns showed how easily separated people are and how fragile the society is, like an egg. When I'm reading I often don't think of things the same way as everyone else, especially with poetry, so I really liked Foster's view on symbols.
In chapter 11, "...More than it's Gonna Hurt You..." Foster says, "Violence is one of the most personal and even intimate acts between human beings.." (page 88). This statement reminds me of the novel "Light in August" To me this statement just screams out Joe Christmas. In the novel he killed many people. After being hurt by the people he was close to, both physically and mentally, he began hurting people that he was close to. When he was younger he killed his foster father when he got upset, but his father had also been hurting him his entire childhood. When Christmas grew up and made his way to the town where he met Joanna Burden (whose name could also be a symbol) he formed a strange relationship with her. They were intimate in many ways, physically and mentally. Near the end of the novel Christmas and Joanna both tried to kill each other, Christmas a good bit more successful. After trying to share her religion with him and getting refused Joanna tried to shoot Joe and then herself. Christmas saw what she was doing and killed her first. After someone passing threw found Joanna dead and a reward was offered Joe's only friend tried to turn him in. Once Christmas was found his own grandfather wanted to kill him himself, because he thought Christmas had African American in him. To me this novel showed how intimate violence can be better than almost any other novel.
Courtney, that's so funny because I was about to include a little discussion about East/West Egg in a recent post. I think your point is valid and it's problematic in regard to the AP exam. I've always thought it quite a paradox to have to answer 55 mulitiple choice questions about the interpretation of literature. MULTIPLE CHOICE??? ABOUT INTERPRETATION?? That's just so weird to me. Anyway, just wanted to point out that I'm glad you're sticking to your interpretive guns. It's good to challenge others' views and present a case for your own. That exercises your critical reading chops. Nice job.
As I continue to read this book, I begin to understand more as to why authors use certain elements or events in their writing. This week included acts of violence, symbols, the much dreaded politics, Christ, and flying.
Chapter 11 "...More Than It's Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence" reminded me of, yet again, Ethan Frome. Acts of violence can include shooting, stabbing, poisoning, and in this case, trying to commit suicide. Mattie wanted for her and Ethan to sled into a tree to avoid the possibility of ever leaving each other. They try killing themselves in order to live freely together. His act of violence represented escape from the harsh realities of the world and his inability to make his own decisions. He conforms to society and what others think. He has no control in his marriage with Zeena, has no money to go anywhere, and like his family, he will most likely die in Starkfield. He agrees with Mattie's wish because it's his easy way out. It bares no consequesnces. However, he was wrong. Their last ride together was unsuccessful because Ethan misses the tree. As a result, he is now deformed, Mattie is paralyzed, and he must live with these consequences. Violence is used almost always in literature and has some meaning beyond the act itself.
Chapter 15 "Flights of Fancy" reminded me of Emily Dickinson's famous poem, "Hope is the Thing With Feathers." Foster states that in a nutshell, flying represents freedom. The person doesn't necessarily have to fly but their soul can soar. In Dickinson's poem, she compares hope to a bird. A bird in itself represents freedom and a sense of escape and hope because they can fly anywhere they please. Dickinson defines hope as something "with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all." In other words, hope is something that flies. Hope is freedom. Hope is found everywhere.
I'm not sure if my responses meet your requirements, but I hope they do :] If not, please tell me so I can fix them.
I should have read this book in eigth grade!!! lol. The things i could have done with this knowledge prior to my senior year!
As i began reading chapter eleven "...More Than It's Gunnu Hurt You: Concerning Violence" I thought, "There is no way he will miss saying something about William Golding's "Lord Of The Flies." Sadly, i was wrong. Although i found it cool that i was able to automatically pick something out that related to the subject. lol everytime he references a book i have read i say, "YES! I know what he is talking about. I have been here and learned this before and that's exactly what we talked about in ms.so and so's class." sorry. sidetracted. Back back to the novel. Lord of the Flies is engrained with violence and hatred. Reading it only having completed one year of high school i was somewhat oblivious to why anyone would write such a horid, immoral story. Now i know. On more levels than just skimming the surface in class too. Foster says violence is not incorporated into novels for nothing and not always staightforwardly. After reading this chapter and my confused thoughts on Lord of the flies i began rethinking it. Epiphany lightbulbs went off in my head. Golding's use of violence shows us civilty versus savagery. But on a deeper note, one i missed in my first look, Human instinct. wow. What a relief. I feel that book has not been read in vain now ;)
But wait there's more. Lord of the Flies is substantially more important than i ever imagined. Chapter 12, "Is That a Symbol?" has opened my views to symbols and symbolism. When foster stated the first sentance, i took a deep breath. I will no longer be timid and, i admit, somewhat fearfull of symbolism. Foster has enlightened me that symbolism is wide open!! Until now, I've always thought that symbolism is simply symbolism. It's there and your simply supposed to see it. He gives great techniques on how to catch it and what to look for using great examples.
Lord of the flies is full of symbols. Symbols that if not caught or missed can easily lead into confusion for a great deal of the novel. Piggy's glasses were supposed to represent science and intelligence. I think ( my own view) they can also symbolize civilization. Eventually when the boys have gone completely savage, piggy's glasses break. All hopes of civilty are gone. Hey, Foster says i can think that so why not. Also i could go into a whole seperate discussuion about how chapter 13 "It's All Political" ties into "Lord of The Flies" with the whole Law vs. Anarchy theme but as i have said i think that's a whole seperate discussion.
Lord of the Flies would have been a perfect novel for Foster to slip into "How to Read Literature Like a Professor". It relates to many of his theories, laws, and facts.
By the way, I am truly enjoying this book and can't wait to see the future benefeits it holds. I've already tied it to past books I've read.
Okay, well these chapters aren't as good as i thought they would be. But they aren't that bad.
In chapter 11, More Than It's Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence made me think about Ethan Frome. When Ethan and Mattie decide to hit the big tree at the bottom of the hill so they could be together, but they ended up alive and scarred for life. Foster quotes, "the specific injury that authors cause characters to visit on one another or on themselves" (page 89). As soon as I read that I said to myself, "Ethan Frome". It also reminds me of The Great Gatsby. There is violence everywhere in the novel. When Tom hits Myrtle in the face because she wouldn't stop saying Daisy's name, and when George came and shot Jay and then himself because Tom had told him that Jay killed his wife. Even though Jay's death didn't have an affect on any of the other characters it still involves death of a character and the death of the american dream.
In chapter 12, Is That a Symbol? remionds me of Hick Finn. Just as Foster pointed out in the chapter. There are so many symbols throughout that novel. Like Frost said, "The river is a little bit of everything in the novel". And he is right. I found that out myself after reading the novel. It could mean freedom, death, and it introduces Huck to his maturity and responsibility.
I am enjoying this book so much and it helps alot with other liturature I have read in the past. I can't wait to see what chapters 18-27 have in store for me :)
As I continued reading "How to Read Like a Professor" I gained necessary knowledge to be an informed reader. In chapters ten through fifteen Foster demonstrates a variety of topics found throughout many novels.
Chapter 11- …More Than it’s Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence
In chapter eleven Foster helps us understand that violence can be symbolic, thematic, biblical, Shakespearean, or romantic. While reading over this chapter I was thinking about the violence in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” One of the themes in the play is about love being the cause of violence. When Tybalt notices that Romeo has crashed the feast, he is determined to kill him. While, on the other hand, Romeo catches sight of Juliet and falls instantly in love with her. From that point on, the lovers get pushed closer to love and violence, not farther from it. In Act III, Romeo uses a knife from Friar Lawrence’s cell and threatens to kill himself after he is banished from Verona and his love. A few seconds later Juliet tries to take her life by committing suicide in Friar Lawrence’s cell. This continues till the inevitable conclusion of double suicide. This is not the only example of violence in “Romeo and Juliet”, in the first scene of Act I the Montagues and Capulets have a brawl in the streets of Verona.
Chapter 12- Is That a Symbol?
In chapter twelve Foster mentions that there is no one definite meaning unless it’s an allegory, where characters, events, and places have a one-on-one correspondence symbolically to other things. For example, the scarlet letter in "The Scarlet Letter" is supposed to represent shame, but it ends up becoming a distinct symbol of Hester’s identity. The meaning of the letter changes from the beginning of the novel to the end. Originally the letter is supposed to be a sign of Hester’s adulterous ways, but towards the end the “A” stands for “Able.” The “A” eventually becomes imprecise. At the Election Day Pageant, the Native Americans that have come to watch think it signifies that the person wearing it is an important person. And last but not least, the letter serves as a reminder of Hester’s affair with Dimmesdale.
I am a huge fan of the "Twilight" series. In the first book, Bella moves to Forks, Washington to live with her dad. There are very few days when it's not raining there. Bella isn't a huge fan of the rain. She falls in love with Edward Cullen, the local vampire. Later in the story, they meet in a beautiful field where the sun seems to shine right through. It's there that they confess their love for each other. Bella was dreading living in Forks, where the weather was always gloomy and somewhat depressing to a lonely teenager. I see this field as a symbol of Bella's long-lost happiness for life. Just when she thought her situation couldn't get any worse, she meets Edward and they find themselves together in this field. The sun shines through the trees and hope is found. She finds happiness in this place that she hasn't felt in a long while.
Chapter 11, "...More Than It's Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence", reminds me of the violence from "The Great Gatsby". The rich are very careless and carefree concerning life. When the characters in this story commit acts of violence, they don't think twice about their actions. Tom casually punches Myrtle and breaks her nose, like men have the right to do with women what they want. Later in the story, Daisy hits Myrtle while driving. She continues on her way, not caring that she just took someone's life away. She goes on living her life as if she's done nothing wrong.
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