Monday, November 18, 2013

How to Read Literature like a professor

Chapter 1 -- Every Trip Is a Quest (Except When It’s Not) List the five aspects of the QUEST and then apply them to something you have read (or viewed) in the form used on pages 3-5.

Safe Haven
1. Our quester: Katie (Protagonist)
2. A place to go: Anywhere to escape her crazy husband.
3.A stated reason to go there: To seek shelter away from her abusive husband.
4.Challenges and Trials: She had to find a house, a job and fit in to a whole new life. As she started her new journey she had to protect herself from being found.
5. The real reason to go: To find the true love of her life, as well as finding herself.

Chapter 2 -- Nice to Eat with You: Acts of Communion
Choose a meal from a literary work and apply the ideas of Chapter 2 to this literary depiction.

In the short story The Lame Shall Enter First, an argument was taken place during breakfast. This is a form of communion gone wrong. When communion goes wrong it portays a bad occurence later through the story. In the end of the story the son commits suicide.

 Chapter 3: --Nice to Eat You: Acts of VampiresWhat are the essentials of the Vampire story? Apply this to a literary work you have read or viewed.

The essential things of the Vamire story would include selfishness, exploitation and a refusal to respect others' independence. In the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, the innocence of Bella was taken away by her charming vampire boyfriend. The vampire is known as a sexual allure.

Chapter 5 --Now, Where Have I Seen Her Before?
Define intertextuality. Discuss three examples that have helped you in reading specific works.
 
Intertextuality is the ongoing interaction between literary works. Three examples of intertextuality would include Rapunzel and Tangled, Grease and High School Musical, Titanic and Romeo and Juliet.

Chapter 6 -- When in Doubt, It’s from Shakespeare...
Discuss a work that you are familiar with that alludes to or reflects Shakespeare. Show how the author uses this connection thematically. Read pages 44-46 carefully. In these pages, Foster shows how Fugard reflects Shakespeare through both plot and theme. In your discussion, focus on theme.
 
The Lion King is a perfect reflection of Hamlet. The plot is identical as well as the theme. There is a heroic character, known as Simba. Simba gets revenge from his father's murder by killing his evil uncle Scar. The same events occur in Hamlet however, they are in a different form. The theme of both are Revenge.
 
 
Chapter 7 -- ...Or the Bible
Discuss 3 Biblical allusions that appear in a film, short story, or novel other than "The Lame Shall Enter First." Be creative and imaginative in these connections.
 
Superman is referred to as a Christ like figure. Both are known as a man of steel. Superman saves the lives of others and protects them. Jesus saves people in a different manner, however the protection of the lord is just as powerful as the strength of Superman. Superman also portrays anti-christ qualities, because no one can be as perfect as our savior.

Chapter 8 -- Hanseldee and Greteldum
Think of a work of literature that reflects a fairy tale. Discuss the parallels. Does it create irony or deepen appreciation?
 
Shrek is a modern day version of several fairy tales wrapped into one with a comedy twist. In the beginning the prince is an ugly weak man looking for a beautiful princess bride. The fact the prince is opposite of charming, it shows the irony of the 20th century tradtion. He talks to the mirror, much like the one in Snow White. He hires shrek to rescue his fair maiden from a tall castle, simular to the one in Rapunzel. At the end of the film, Shrek and Fiona have to be married by a certain day to break the curse from an evil witch. This scene is very simular to the one in Snow White where the Prince has to kiss her to break the spell and awake her. This movie does deepen the appreciation because one must adapt to the changing times as well as keeping tradition, therefore Shrek is a perfect version of today's society in fairy tales.
 
Chapter 9 -- It’s Greek to Me
Write a free verse poem derived or inspired by characters or situations from Greek mythology. Be prepared to share your poem with the class.

Oceanus
He held the power of water at his fingertips.
He created rivers to ocean nymphs.
He is the producer of an unending stream circling the world.

Chapter 10 -- It’s More Than Just Rain or Snow
Discuss the importance of weather in a specific literary work, not in terms of plot.
 
Near the ending of "The Notebook" a dramatic scene between Noah and Allie takes place. They are in the middle of arguing when the rain pours and they jump into each others arms and the conflict is over. The rain is symbol for starting over and cleansing the relationship. If the rain was not present, there would not be a clear transition between anger and love.
 
Interlude -- Does He Mean That
 
 
Chapter 11 --...More Than It’s Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence
Present examples of the two kinds of violence found in literature. Show how the effects are different.
 
Character caused: In "Snow White" the evil witch poisons Snow White with an apple, causing her to be put to sleep. This effects the story by causing conflict.
Characters are not responsible: In "The Red Masque of Death" the black plague is the main conflict taking place. The characters can not help the illness therefore the story becomes sympathetic to the characters and creates a sense of surprise for the reader.

 Chapter 12 -- Is That a Symbol?
Use the process described on page 106 and investigate the symbolism in something we have read this year (short story or novel).

The symbolism of outer space in "The Lame Shall Enter First" can mean many things throughout the story. Outer space is a symbol for the father's desires, such as his son becoming an astronaunt. One can relate launching off into space as conquering a longterm goal. After all, outer space is the most unthinkable place one can reach in their lifetime. After the story is progressed, one can think of launching off into space as crossing over into the afterlife. Heaven was the boy's highest desire because he wanted to be with his mother. One should ask themselves throughout the short story, would this relate to launching off of something in order to find something better?
 
Chapter 13 -- It’s All Political
Assume that Foster is right and “it is all political.” Use his criteria to show that one of the major works assigned to you this year is political.

In "Looking for Alaska" the Weekday Warriors could be represented as an upper class because they own nice things and believe they live at a higher stand point then the others living on the creek. This could relate to the political issue of relations among classes.
 
Chapter 14 -- Yes, She’s a Christ Figure, Too
Apply the criteria on page 119 to a major character in a significant literary work. Try to choose a character that will have many matches. This is a particularly apt tool for analyzing film -- for example, Star Wars, Cool Hand Luke, Excalibur, Malcolm X, Braveheart, Spartacus, Gladiator and Ben-Hur.

Stanley from "Zero" would be known as a christ figure because he suffered wounds in his hands from a shovel. He sacrifices himself to save Zero, knowing he might die from starvation. Also, he had confrontation with the devil , also known as the warden.
 
Chapter 15 -- Flights of Fancy
Select a literary work in which flight signifies escape or freedom. Explain in detail.

In peter pan when he sprinkles the fairy dust on the children, he opens up a whole new world right in front of them. He introduces a magical place where one would never have to grow up. The journey to Neverland is an example of flying to escape. The children are escaping from the burdens of reality and finding a peaceful place to just be a kid.

 Chapter 16 -- It’s All About Sex...
Chapter 17 -- ...Except the Sex
OK ..the sex chapters. The key idea from this chapter is that “scenes in which sex is coded rather than explicit can work at multiple levels and sometimes be more intense that literal depictions” (141). In other words, sex is often suggested with much more art and effort than it is described, and, if the author is doing his job, it reflects and creates theme or character. Choose a novel or movie in which sex is suggested, but not described, and discuss how the relationship is suggested and how this implication affects the theme or develops characterization.

Gone with the Wind would be a great example for suggesting sex. Theres a scene in which Butler is drunk and decides to confess his love for Scarlett O'Hara. The conversation is not the most plesant, however, it turns into a kiss. They kiss angrily for awhile then he packs her up the stairs. The author suggests sexual interactions, although he does not describe it.
 
 Chapter 18 -- If She Comes Up, It’s Baptism
Think of a “baptism scene” from a significant literary work. How was the character different after the experience? Discuss.

In the beginning of  "A Walk To Remember" a young boy by the name of Landon and his group of friends are hanging out by the water tower. They convinve their newest gang member to jump in the water. The boy nearly drowns before Landon jumps in to save him. As the security guards came, the gang members flee. It takes Landon a few moments to think then he runs shortly behind them, however he was caught and forced to do community service. Before this incident Landon was a punk kid, who only got into trouble. After saving the boy and coming out of the water he changed for the better. He saw the good in things and surrounded himself around positive people. He fell in love and finally gave back as much as he took. In other words, he developed a heart for things.
 
Chapter 19 -- Geography Matters...Discuss at least four different aspects of a specific literary work that Foster would classify under “geography.”
 
In the novel "Looking for Alaska" there are different types of geography brought into the setting. It begins in Florida where a teen by the name of Pudge was searching for a great perhaps. The heat of Florida is a symbol for Pudge's unhappiness with his life and pressure to find what he is looking for. The next setting is taken place in a colder region at Culver Creek. The coldness of the climate foreshadows a death, in this case it was Pudge's friend, Alaska. Another moment of foreshadowing would be when Culver creek expierienced a long week of rain.  In another literary work "New Moon" from the Twilight Saga, it begins with Edward and Bella laying in a field of flowers with the wind blowing just right. This sets the tone for love and happiness.

Chapter 20 -- ...So Does SeasonFind a poem that mentions a specific season. Then discuss how the poet uses the season in a meaningful, traditional, or unusual way. (Submit a copy of the poem with your analysis.)

The poem Cottonwood Summer by Jack Peachum is about the season of summer. This poem is used in an unusual way because the author uses personification to make summer feel alive. After all the meaning of the poem is the idea that summer will make the heart grow with joy.

“You may have your mighty oaks—
Go on— listen to your whispering pines,
Tend your pretty flowers—
For I’ll outlast them all—
I can grow anywhere, any time—
Give me an inch of your ground,
And I will bury you!
I ask nothing of you, neither food nor water,
I thrive in the drought and I rest in the cold—
Next year I’ll be stronger,
My roots going deeper,
And some night I’ll creep into your room,
Plant myself over you, cover you up,
Bind you to the sheets—
My branches will grow out of your heart.”


Interlude -- One Story
Write your own definition for archetype. Then identify an archetypal story and apply it to a literary work with which you are familiar.

An archetype is a theme, event, or an idea that repeats itself through other stories. It ties in with  intertextuality saying that all stories come from the same story. An example would forbidden love. It was first used in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet". It is now used in other stories and movies such as The Titanic. In this case, Jack and Rose are from two different styles of living. Rose's parents forbid the love, which only made it grow.

Chapter 21 -- Marked for Greatness
Figure out Harry Potter’s scar. If you aren’t familiar with Harry Potter, select another character with a physical imperfection and analyze its implications for characterization.
 
Harry Potter's scar is a symbol for his past. He was scarred not only by appearence but in emotions. He lost his parents due to evil and was left with horrible caretakers. The scar is a reminder for readers to understand the main start of the story.


Chapter 22 -- He’s Blind for a Reason, You Know
Chapter 23 -- It’s Never Just Heart Disease...
Chapter 24 -- ...And Rarely Just Illness
Recall two characters who died of a disease in a literary work. Consider how these deaths reflect the “principles governing the use of disease in literature” (215-217). Discuss the effectiveness of the death as related to plot, theme, or symbolism.
In "The Walk To Remember" Jamie is sick and dying of cancer. Without her illness the love story would not be unique and rememorable to the readers. Jamie was sick and struggling, this allowed Landon to become a huge part of her life. If it was not for Jamie's last wishes before she dies, Landon would not have went through the transitions he needed for his own life. This disease makes the theme of love more intense and meaningful. Another instance would be "My Sister's Keeper". The little girl was also sick with cancer, however the plot was much different. This girl had a younger sister that sacrificed her own body to keep her alive. In the end, her sister refuses to have anymore surgeries for his sister because she asked her not to. She wanted to die and be done with the never ending battle. This plot of the story is revolved around her disease. It also symbolizes to the reader that even though you love someone or something, eventually you have to let go. Everything comes to and end, whether it be by death or other causes. We as human beings have to cope with the loss and move on, with an open heart, great memories and sometimes lessons learned. After all, no one said love was easy.

Chapter 25 -- Don’t Read with Your EyesAfter reading Chapter 25, choose a scene or episode from a novel, play or epic written before the twentieth century. Contrast how it could be viewed by a reader from the twenty-first century with how it might be viewed by a contemporary reader. Focus on specific assumptions that the author makes, assumptions that would not make it in this century.

In Romeo and Juliet they believed the only way to be together since their parents disapproved was to kill themselves with posion. In today's times there would be other ways to work around the issue. One could simply run away and get married, sneak around, or simply choose to ignore their parent's opinion. In society today, one would be use to their inlaws not liking them, however they manage.

Chapter 26 -- Is He Serious? And Other Ironies
Select an ironic literary work and explain the multivocal nature of the irony in the work.
 
Chapter 27 -- A Test Case
Read “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield, the short story starting on page 245. Complete the exercise on pages 265-266, following the directions exactly. Then compare your writing with the three examples. How did you do? What does the essay that follows comparing Laura with Persephone add to your appreciation of Mansfield’s story?

No comments:

Post a Comment