How To Read Literature Like A Professor

1. It's All Political

1.1. many people use current issues occuring in societyas a basis for their writting

2. Now Where Have I Seen Her Before?

2.1. writers use prior literary works to create their own

3. It's More Than Just Rain Or Snow

3.1. rain NEVER means rain. weather can represent many things

4. Never Stand Next To The Hero

4.1. literature is always based on people

5. ...More Than It's Gonna Hurt You

5.1. violence is always a metaphor for something deeper

6. Is That A Symbol

6.1. things can symbolize different things, based on the opinion of the readers

7. Yes, She's A Christ Figure Too

7.1. Christ-like figures can represent sacrifice, redemption and hope

8. It's All About Sex...Except Sex

8.1. sex doesn't always look like sex. it can be sexuality or fertility or other things that add richness and depth to the work

9. If She Comes Up, It's Baptism

9.1. both drowning and baptism can be symbols of rebirth

10. Geography Matters, So Does Season

10.1. settings affect the actions of the character and can represent ex: safety or wildness

11. It's Never Just Heart Disease And Rarely Just Illness

11.1. symbolic: heart=emotions therefore illness and disease are lyrical and metaphorical

12. It's My Symbol And I'll Cry If I Want To

12.1. the smallest things can symbolize something important

13. How'd He Do That

13.1. memory, symbol, pattern.

14. Every Trip Is A Quest (Except When It's Not)

14.1. every trip is an important quest for the protagonist. quest consists of: a quester, a place to go, a stated reason to go there, challenges and trials en route, a real reason to go there

15. Nice To Eat With You: Act Of Communion

15.1. people eat and drink together, an act called communion

16. Nice To Eat You: Act Of Vampires

16.1. novels depict people's willingness to fight for their desires no matter how selfish it may be

17. When In Doubt, It's From Shakespeare...Or The Bible

17.1. Writers commonly reference to Shakespeare and the Bible

18. Hanseldee and Greteldum

18.1. metonymy: using something to name another thing that is closely related

19. It's Greek To Me

19.1. myths give literature structure-Greek myth is most known and most referenced

20. Does He Mean That

20.1. everything the author adds is intentional and for a specific reason

21. Flights of Fancy

21.1. humans want to fly. fly=freedom

22. One Story

22.1. there is only one story which is about everything and encompasses all aspects

23. Marked For Greatness

23.1. markings=separation. destination

24. He's Blind For A Reason, You Know

24.1. blindness is never solely physical. the blind can see beyond.

25. Don't Read With Your Eyes

25.1. put aside your differences to find & understand the meaning behind the actions and consider time period & circumstance