How To Read Literature Like A Professor Summary

In the introduction of Thomas C. Foster’s How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Foster sets the scene for the upcoming chapters by pointing out crucial literary devices. Through several references, it is further explained how memories, symbols and patterns help to create broader understandings throughout literary texts. Foster continues by stating that the usage of these devices establishes the advanced readers from “the rest of the crowd” (xxvii).
English professors are, in Foster’s eyes, “cursed with memory” (xxvii). He relates his literary memories to an ancient Rolodex and mentions how he mentally goes through several previously read works in attempts to find any correlations with newer documents. Memory is especially vital to readers when remembering symbols and patterns. Symbols are so vast throughout literature, Foster jokingly adds that “everything is a symbol of something until proven otherwise” (xxvii). As comic as that statement is, it is also completely substantial. Any small item in literature can have a massive symbolic importance or

even represent several different meanings. While this might seem daunting to some, Foster suggests that symbolic imagination, or the intensive training in symbol recognition becomes easier and easier with practice and the addition of memory. Finally, patterns are found by connecting past and present knowledge of a novel. Patterns are challenging to comprehend because readers can often become entangled with the plot and drama. The best thing to do when searching for a pattern is to “step back from the work, even while you’re reading it, and look for those patterns” (xxviii). With memory, patterns become easier to pick up once you step away from the plot.
Recently, I just completed the novel Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard.

Mare Barrow, the red blooded protagonist goes through several trials and tribulations dealing with the segregation and morals. A recurring pattern that blew me away was the repetitive idea of anyone can betray anyone. At first I did not recognize this as a pattern, but as the book progressed, it became more and more evident. The symbolism of Mare’s earrings, one rhinestone for each of her brothers that have gone war, was a beautiful symbol for the love of her family. Comprehending several of the symbols as well as the patterns with memory brought the novel onto a whole new level for me and only increased my appreciation and adoration for the characters. After reading the introduction of How to Read Literature Like a Professor, I recognize the importance of symbols, patterns and memory, and I plan to apply these devices on works I read in the

future.