Cornell Notes On How To Read Literature Like A Professor

Cornell Notes on How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Introduction: Thomas Foster's "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" is a seminal work for anyone wanting to deepen their understanding and appreciation of literature. This article will serve as an extensive set of Cornell notes, summarizing key concepts from the book and providing space for your own reflections and annotations. We'll explore the recurring themes and literary devices Foster highlights, enriching your reading experience and enabling you to analyze texts with greater insight.

Part 1: Understanding the Building Blocks of Literature

Key Concepts:

• Every Trip is a Quest (Except When It's Not): Foster emphasizes the quintessential quest structure—a character(s) goes on a journey, facing trials and tribulations, eventually returning transformed. He notes that not every journey is a literal quest, but many narratives follow this archetypal pattern. This can be metaphorical, dealing with inner growth or ideological shifts.

• Nice to Eat with You: Acts of Communion: Shared meals in literature often symbolize more than just sustenance; they signify communion, intimacy, and connection between characters. These scenes often reveal underlying relationships and foreshadow future events. Conversely, the refusal of a meal can indicate conflict or estrangement.

• Nice to Eat You: Acts of Vampires: Foster extends the concept of “eating” beyond literal consumption, using “vampire” as a metaphor for exploitation, draining of life force, or the corrupting influence of one character on another. This transcends the literal vampire figure, encompassing various forms of parasitic relationships.

• If She Comes Up, It’s Baptism: Drowning scenes are not always about literal death; they frequently represent rebirth, purification, or a transformative experience. The character emerges from the water changed in some significant way. This symbolic baptism mirrors religious connotations of cleansing and renewal.

• Geography Matters…: Setting is rarely incidental. The physical landscape often mirrors the internal landscape of characters or reflects thematic concerns within the narrative. Consider the symbolic significance of locations, weather patterns, and geographical features.

My Notes & Reflections:

(Leave space here for your own notes, examples from literature you've read, and connections to your personal experiences)

Part 2: Exploring Literary Devices and Recurring Motifs

Key Concepts:

• …So Does Season: Seasons frequently hold symbolic weight. Spring signifies rebirth, summer passion and fulfillment, autumn decline and aging, and winter death or dormancy. The use of seasons often contributes to the overall mood and theme of the work.

• Marked for Greatness: Physical imperfections or deformities in characters often carry symbolic meaning, representing flaws in character, moral imperfections, or a burden to overcome. These marks can become sources of strength or vulnerability.

• He’s Blind for a Reason, You Know: Blindness in literature rarely represents merely a physical impairment. It often symbolizes a lack of insight, understanding, or spiritual vision. Conversely, characters who see may be granted insight others lack.

• It’s Greek to Me: Foster emphasizes the pervasive influence of classical mythology on literature. Understanding allusions to Greek myths and figures enriches our reading, revealing deeper layers of meaning and symbolism.

• Is That a Symbol?: Yes, But What Does It Mean?: Symbols are complex and context-dependent. Foster cautions against simplistic interpretations, urging readers to consider the multiple layers of meaning a symbol might convey within a specific text.

My Notes & Reflections:

(Leave space here for your own notes, examples from literature you've read, and connections to your personal experiences)

Part 3: Understanding Narrative Structure and Character Development

Key Concepts:

• It’s All Political: Even seemingly apolitical works often reflect the social and political climate of their time. Understanding the historical context is crucial for interpreting the text’s message and underlying themes.

• Yes, She’s a Christ Figure, Too: Characters exhibiting Christ-like qualities are prevalent in literature. These figures may not be explicitly religious but share attributes such as sacrifice, compassion, and redemptive potential. This comparison adds layers of meaning and complexity.

• Flights of Fancy: Flights (literal or metaphorical) often symbolize freedom, escape, spirituality, or a transcendent experience. They can also represent a departure from reality or a leap of faith.

• It’s More Than Just Rain or Snow: Weather conditions are seldom merely descriptive. They often mirror the emotional state of characters or reflect the overall mood and tone of the narrative. Rain can symbolize sadness, cleansing, or despair, while snow can represent purity, isolation, or death.

• Never Stand Next to the Hero: Foster highlights the use of foils and contrasting characters to highlight the protagonist's traits and motivations. Understanding the roles of secondary characters enhances our understanding of the protagonist’s journey.

My Notes & Reflections:

(Leave space here for your own notes, examples from literature you've read, and connections to your personal experiences)

Part 4: Interpreting Irony and Narrative Techniques

Key Concepts:

• …And Often a Test: Challenges and trials faced by characters often serve as tests of their character, revealing their strengths, weaknesses, and moral compass. These tests are not just plot devices but instruments for character development.

• Use the Force, Luke: The presence of the “Force” or similar intangible powers in literature often represents fate, destiny, or the influence of supernatural forces on human lives. This explores themes of determinism vs. free will.

• If It’s Square, It’s a Sonnet: Foster emphasizes the importance of understanding the formal elements of literature. He discusses various poetic forms, including sonnets, and how these structures impact the meaning and delivery of the poem.

• Now, Where Have I Seen Her Before?: Literature frequently employs archetypes, allusions, and recurring motifs, drawing from mythology, history, and other literary works. Recognizing these echoes enriches our understanding and appreciation of the text.

• When in Doubt, It’s Shakespeare: Shakespeare's influence permeates Western literature. His works have provided countless allusions, themes, and character archetypes that continue to resonate in contemporary literature.

My Notes & Reflections:

(Leave space here for your own notes, examples from literature you've read, and connections to your personal experiences)

Conclusion:

This expanded set of Cornell notes provides a framework for engaging with Thomas Foster's "How to Read Literature Like a Professor." Remember to actively engage with the text, applying these concepts to your own readings and developing your own critical analysis skills. The more you practice identifying recurring motifs, understanding symbolism, and recognizing literary techniques, the richer your understanding of literature will become. By actively engaging with these concepts and applying them to your own reading, you will unlock a deeper understanding and appreciation for the literary works you encounter. Continue to annotate, reflect, and expand upon these notes as you read more literature and deepen your critical thinking skills. Happy reading!