How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster

What does it mean when a fictional hero takes a journey?. Shares a meal? Gets drenched in a sudden rain shower? Often, there is much more going on in a novel or poem than is readily visible on the surface—a symbol, maybe, that remains elusive, or an unexpected twist on a character—and there's that sneaking suspicion that the deeper meaning of a literary text keeps escaping you.In this practical and amusing guide to literature, Thomas C. Foster shows how easy and gratifying it is to unlock those hidden truths, and to discover a world where a road leads to a quest; a shared meal may signify a communion; and rain, whether cleansing or destructive, is never just rain. Ranging from major themes to literary models, narrative devices, and form, How to Read Literature Like a Professor is the perfect companion for making your reading experience more enriching, satisfying, and fun.

This book was summer reading for my AP Lit Class. I am a little bit closer to understanding literary symbolism (this book is 100% about literary symbolism), but not nearly as proficient as Mr. Foster demonstrates himself to be. That's a little disappointing, but then again, I'm not an actual English professor, so I still have time.

Mr. Foster's narrative voice is funny and frank, but even so, this book nearly put me to sleep a couple of times. Mostly because each chapter, based on one idea in symbolism (the Christ-like figure, or the symbolism of seasons). He goes on for pages and pages listing where these symbols can be found in literature and what they mean in that context. This is very helpful, but also very repetitive. There's probably a SparkNotes outline that can clarify Mr. Foster's ideas for you without all of the bulk, and while you will lose some of the background info or concrete examples, that might not be such a loss. Honestly, you can get a pretty high percentage of the book's ideas from the chapter titles alone.

I wouldn't tell you to read this book for fun, but if you've got a good reason to be seeking information on literary symbolism, How To Read Literature Like A Professor is probably one of your better choices. And it's probably going to be a really good reference text for AP Lit this fall.

Interesting book but some flaws. The author never wants to say “X is Y” which I get, but he never says that “X is not Y” which would help one understand symbols and meanings. He works hard at a folksy, aw shucks “I'm a regular guy like you” mien which gets tiresome. Finally, not everyone is Christian and he could have explained some of the religious ideas.