Introduction: How’d He Do That? Memory, symbol, and pattern are a big bulk of reading in literature. By reading more and more, you will begin to see patterns in different works. Once you begin to compare and contrast, it will help you understand the bottom line of books.It’s becomes fun and exciting when you make connections. Chapter 1: Every Trip Is a Quest (Except When It’s Not) Paper Towns by John Green Five aspects of a QUEST: 1) A quester, 2) A place to go, 3) A stated reason to go there 4) challenges faced 5) The real reason to go there Our Quester : Quentin Jacobson (has always had a secret crush on Margo Roth Spiegelman) A Place to Go : New York City A Stated Reason to Go: To find Margo, who went missing the day after adventuring with Quentin. Challenges and Trials: Quentin and his friends face a big bump when having to decide whether or not they are going to have to miss graduation to find Margo Real Reason: To find not only the true Margo but also his true self. As he goes on his journey to find her, he realises he she isn’t really the person he thought she was. Seeing this helps him he opens his eyes to the person he really is and not the person his parents want …show more content…
him to be. Chapter 2: Nice to Eat with You: Acts of Communion In the film Stuck in Love, Rusty is eating dinner at his mom’s house but when he is there, he comes to dinner high which causes conflict. Rusty always is coming to dinner high and this was the last straw for Erica, his mom, because he is always so rude and selfish and it is bringing out the bad side of him so Erica is worried that he is being the person he is when he is high. This created negativity between the characters. In this scene, the characters are not getting along. Erica was giving Rusty another chance and seeing if he would finally realise that it isn’t acceptable to come to a family dinner high, but Rusty did not take the offer seriously and instead was selfish with his ways. Chapter 3: Acts of Vampirism Essentials of a vampire story: nasty old man, attractive but evil, violates a young woman, leaves his mark, takes her innocence. In the movie, The Other Women, Kate discovers her husband has been having an affair with two other women. Obviously, he is a rich, good looking guy, but together all of the women discover he has stole all his money. Not only is he unfaithful, but he is also a thief. Both these traits show his vampirism and how he is ‘attractive but evil’. He really doesn’t care if he hurts any of them. Kate is a very innocent women who is doing nothing wrong in the relationship. Chapter 4: Now, Where Have I seen Her Before? Intertextuality is to recognize the connections between different stories.
An example of intertextuality is in West Side Story. Although this is a play, I could connect it back to Romeo and Juliet. The musical is a modern day version of the Shakespeare book, so there was a lot of intertextuality between the two. When watching the play, I noticed that two gangs have always been enemies and are fighting for control over the area. This is much like the on going battle between the Capulets and Montagues. Knowing this helped me see the rivalry between the two gangs. On top of this, one of the gang members falls in love with a rival’s sister. Again, having read Romeo and Juliet,I could relate this part to it. The both have the same theme of wanting something you can’t have. Another example
is Chapter 5: When in Doubt, It’s from Shakespeare… The Outsiders Even though you can basically find connections from pretty much any book, I found really strong similarities in The Outsiders and Romeo and Juliet. They both had a related theme being: you have to learn to get along with everyone, and violence gets in the way of knowing what really is important in life. The Montagues and Capulets always had a huge hatred toward one another. Same goes with the Socs and Greasers. In Romeo and Juliet two teenegaer from feauding families fall in love. This is similar to Cherry, Marcia, JOhnny and Ponyboy all having a friendship. Both these things cause major mayhem when their families/groups find out. Innocent lives are taken simply because of a feud. In the end they all realise that family is the most important thing they have and they realise that they are all one. To not have this happen again, the Montagues and Capulets ended all the battles between one another. Same goes for the Socs and Greasers Chapter 6: ...Or the Bible The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S Lewis The entire Narnian story is a In this novel, The Great Lion is a main character. Throughout the book, the world of Narnia is supposed to resemble the story of Christ. The Great Lion is the alternative version of Jesus. His traits are very similar to the traits of Christ. Even his voluntary death is a symbol of how Jesus dies for us. IN this case, The Great Lion dies for Edmund, one of the children. The death of Aslan was a parallel to Christ’s suffering on the cross.This was to show the readers how much Aslan cared for his people, he would do anything for them. In The Last Battle, Aslan creates a new world for all his people to live in after the old world gets destroyed. This resembles the theory in the bible saying Christ will make a new world and Heaven after the world ends. Chapter 7: Hanseldee and Greteldum The Cinderella Story is a movie spoof of the classic fairytale, Cinderella. In the movie, a teenage girl’s dad dies forcing her to move in with her mean step mother. Her step mother makes her do all the chores around the house and rarely lets her go out. Pretty much just like Cinderella Chapter 8: It’s Greek to Me Chapter 9: It’s More Than Just Rain or Snow Eclipse In this novel there is even a chapter titled “Fire and Ice”. In this chapter, it shows how the characters are feeling on the inside, and the weather on on the outside. The chapter takes place in a small tent and the weather is very harsh. Bella at this time has a relationship with both Jacob and Edward. So of course the two were fighting through the night. During one of their fights, Bella was talking about the mad storm (she narrated this chapter) They continue to fight but then eventually hear each other out and forgive one another. The chapter is closed by Bella mentioning how the storm has calmed outside. IT had moved through and was quiet again. It was important in this chapter that when the characters were mad, the storm was too. The weather always seemed to fit the mood spot on. Chapter 10: Never Stand Next to a Hero ???? Chapter 11: ...More Than It’s Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence Chapter 12: Is That a Symbol? Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck In this book, John Steinbeck uses Candy’s dog to symbolize Candy, and also symbolizes Lennie. Candy is much like his dog. Candy’s dog used to be very useful to the ranch but as he became older, the ranch didn’t need nor want him. Since Candy is much like his dog, he fears that the ranch will fire him since he has no use
In the book, The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver, the notion of a quest is very prevalent. According to Thomas Foster, a Quest consists of five things a quester, a place to go, a reason to go there, challenges and trials, and an actual purpose (Foster). Taylor Greer’s journey in The Bean Trees embodies Foster’s ideals through which she gains self-knowledge, learns to thrive and finds her place in the world.
Particularly tree, one of the main, elements used bu Thom Jones in his story "A white Horse" , Symbolism (designed to convey impressions by suggestion rather than by direct statement), Contrast (which is a distinction between two ideas, objects or co lours.
In this chapter, a quest is defined to consist of five main elements: (a) a quester, (b) a place to go, (c) a stated reason to go there, (d) challenges and trials en route, and (e) a reason and go there. Element (a), the quester, is understood to be embarking on a journey while being with or without the realization that he/she is on a quest. The quester is also often depicted as one of youth because youth is accompanied with inexperience and a lack of self knowledge which allows the ultimate goal of the quest to be fulfilled which is the gating of this knowledge.
Thomas C. Foster’s novel How to Read Literature Like a Professor, helps the reader understand the beginnings of a quest by breaking down the task into five steps. A quest will always consist of 1) a quester, 2) a place to go, 3) a stated reason to go there, 4) challenges and trials en route, and 5) a real reason to go there. A quester, the protagonist, typically is not aware that they are partaking in a quest. Step two and three are thought of together usually because the protagonist is told to go somewhere to do something. However, the stated reason to go to their destination is not the real reason they go there. As Foster explains, “In fact, more often than not, the quester fails at
The idea of Thomas C. Foster’s chapter, “Every Trip is a Quest” is that every little journey a character takes can be as important to their character as a quest is to a knight’s. In James Joyce’s short story, “Araby”, we see a glimpse of truth in his statement. The main character of this story, I’ll call him Jack, is showing signs of a crush on his friend Mangan’s sister. Jack doesn’t understand his feelings, and unconsciously lets them control him. He attends Araby, the bazaar, because she told him that she couldn’t, to bring her something back. Then, on the day he wants to go, his uncle arrives home late, the train is delayed, he cannot find a cheaper entrance, most of the stands are closed, and the one he chooses to enter has a hostess who presents herself as rude and judgmental. So far, we have seen four of the five items that Foster states that a quest consists of; a quester, a place to go, a stated reason to go there, and a challenge, or trial. Finally, we come to Foster’s last point, “The real reason for a quest is always self-knowledge,” or the “real reason” for the quest. After Jack fails at his stated reasoning for the quest, he discovers something in himself. He comes to realize what his motivation for attending the event is the same reason for his failure and his both saddened and angered by it.
In conclusion, the brilliant novel “How To Read Literature Like A Professor” by Thomas C. Foster is a fantastic novel that helps grasp the basic ideas and structure that makes up a work of literature. Foster’s laid-back attitude made a major contribution to the great tone of the novel, and made it easier to understand. Many connections were included in the novel, along with some great quotes. After reading this novel, I have a better idea of what to look for when reading a novel.
There are many symbols in the reading March that have a significant value. Throughout the graphic memoir, John Lewis shows there are certain symbols that are very common. Sorted in categories, each concrete object given in the photos provided are modified by their mutual abstraction.
Lowell, Amy. "Patterns." Literature: The Human Experience. Ed. Richard Abcarian and Marvin Klotz. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1996. 291-293.
The Hero’s Journey is a basic template utilized by writers everywhere. Joseph Campbell, an American scholar, analyzed an abundance of myths and literature and decided that almost all of them followed a template that has around twelve steps. He would call these steps the Hero’s Journey. The steps to the Hero’s Journey are a hero is born into ordinary circumstances, call to adventure/action, refusal of call, a push to go on the journey, aid by mentor, a crossing of the threshold, the hero is tested, defeat of a villain, possible prize, hero goes home. The Hero’s Journey is more or less the same journey every time. It is a circular pattern used in stories or myths.
Another major pattern is duality. You can see duality through out the whole book. One example is Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield. Mr. Utterson is very popular around town. He is also involved heavily with the town functions.
out his lips, trying to gather back his pride, his anger, all that thunderclap he’d first come striding in here with” (296). Furthermore, she explains with her point of view of why he wants her to come with him, “Even as he said it, I could tell he didn’t want me, didn’t want me back on the farm, didn’t want me to be reminded of her. Another part of him –the good part, if there was such a thing–might even be thinking that I’d be better of here. It was all pride now, all pride. How could he back down?” *(297). It was only because of his pride that he did not want to leave her with the Boatwright’s.
Answer: The five aspects of a quest: a) a quester, b) a place to go, c) a stated reason to go there, d) challenges and trials en route, and e) a real reason to go there. In All the Bright Places, the “wanderings” of Finch and Violet are all quests, but this comparison will focus on their first adventure.
In the history of written literature, it is difficult not to notice the authors who expand their reader's style and manner of reading. Some write in an unusual syntax which forces the reader to utilize new methods of looking at a language; others employ lengthy allusions which oblige the reader to study the same works the author drew from in order to more fully comprehend the text. Some authors use ingenious and complicated plots which warrant several readings to be understood. But few authors have used all these and still more devices to demand more of the reader. James Joyce, writer of Ulysses and Finnegans Wake, uses extraordinarily inventive and intricate plot construction, creative and often thought-provoking word constructions, allusions to works both celebrated and recondite, and complex issues and theories when challenging his readers to expand their method of reading.
When reading a book understanding the context, juxtaposition, and the author’s style is important, so the reader can later interpret the information. Understanding the juxtaposition of a book allows readers to understand how the events of the story are placed. The juxtaposition of a book also helps with comparing and contrasting. If the reader understands what occurrences were placed next to each other, than they can make connections between the various concepts.
The formalistic approach is only one way of dissecting an open text such as the poem "To His Coy Mistress", but it is one of the best ways to search for the overall meaning of a text. With tools such as structure, style, and imagery, the reader becomes personally involved with the characters and savors the story instead of just reading the written words.