How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines Summary & Key Insights

Thomas Foster's "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" isn't a narrative with a plot and characters in the traditional sense. Instead, it acts as a guide, instructing readers on how to appreciate literature on a deeper, more analytical level. The "main character" is the reader themselves, embarking on a journey of enhanced literary understanding. The "plot" unfolds through a series of interconnected essays, each exploring a recurring motif or literary device.

Foster's approach is conversational and engaging, using numerous examples from literature – both canonical and lesser-known – to illustrate his points. He argues that recognizing recurring patterns and archetypes significantly enriches the reading experience. These patterns are not mere coincidences but deliberate choices by authors to convey meaning and evoke specific responses from readers.

Key themes explored include the significance of symbols and their multiple layers of meaning. Foster demonstrates how seemingly insignificant details – a particular color, weather condition, or object – can carry symbolic weight, often reflecting larger themes of the narrative. He emphasizes the importance of understanding narrative structure, including the use of flashbacks, foreshadowing, and unreliable narrators. He highlights the pervasiveness of archetypes – recurring character types like the mentor, the hero, the scapegoat – and their contribution to the overall meaning of the text.

Other crucial concepts include the power of literary allusions, where authors deliberately reference other works of literature, mythology, or history, enriching their own narratives with layers of intertextuality. The exploration of quest narratives, the significance of geography and weather, and the role of violence (both physical and psychological) are further emphasized. He also explores the concept of communion (shared meals) as a significant symbol, indicating intimacy, fellowship, or even betrayal. Finally, Foster dedicates substantial space to the exploration of sexuality in literature, highlighting how it can often be represented symbolically and subtly rather than explicitly.

The book ultimately aims to equip readers with the tools to move beyond surface-level comprehension and delve into the deeper meanings embedded within literary works. It encourages readers to become active participants in the interpretive process, engaging with texts not just for entertainment but for a richer, more insightful understanding of both the literature and the human condition it reflects. The overarching theme is the empowerment of the reader to become a more perceptive and engaged interpreter of literary texts.