How to Read Literature Like a Professor Q&A
- 1
Which skills does Foster think need to be developed for one to become a better reader and student of literature?
Foster doesn't make any express declarations about the skills needed to become a 'good' student of literature. However, he believes that there are certain features in a text that are central to analysis, and these are memory, symbol, and pattern. He encourages the literature student to practice deeper reading, and look beyond the surface events of the story. Lastly, he asks the reader to ensure that they read the text within the context that it was created, and adopt a receptive mindset when dealing with characters or stories that represent contrary views to those of our own.
- 2
Discuss the possible implications of Christian and Biblical imagery to a literary work, and the importance of such imagery to literary analysis.
The bible is an important part of literature due to the powerful position that the text has held in western culture. It has been referenced appropriately due to how familiar people are with its contents, and because references to the bible elevate the work not only in authority but also because of its associations with divinity and purity.
