Writer's Notebook

"I'm four, in itchy woolen leggings,"- Marilyn Hacker

"the day that I can't recognize the man

down at the park entrance, waving,

as my father. He has ten

more years to live, that spring."

This poem really shows the innocence of a child. All of these images and emotions running through her head that it is hard to decipher what is right in front of her. The way the author describes the event is exactly like a four year old would see it. Instead of focusing on the negatives, like how awful her father looks she talks about her surroundings and little details others might not notice. Even how she starts the poem is relevant to that of a four year old. By introducing the problem with the itchy leggings it takes away some tension from her not even being able to identify her own father.

One thing that I want to get better at is being able to put the big picture in the background by portraying a lot of details. In this poem Hacker talks about her surrounding and what she is wearing in order to take some attention off the declining health of her father. This focus on surrounding shows a sense of innocence, but also allows the reader to identify pathos because of how she goes on to describe what she loves about her father.

Writer's Notebook

Mid Term Break- Seamus Heaney

"Wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple,

He lay in the four foot box as in his cot.

No gaudy scars, bumpers knocked him clear.

A four foot box, a foot for every year."

This poem is so different from what you first expect. Seamus Heaney catches the reader off guard with the title Mid Term Break. College kids see this as a joyous time that they have been waiting for a long time, but then he explains in the first line that he is crying. There is so much sadness in this poem, but there are also little details that give hope, like the baby cooing. The narrator seems out of the loop because he was in college, which made this event even more traumatic.

The one thing that I would like to acquire from this poem is Heaney's ability to build suspense and momentum. Throughout the poem the reader tries to fit the pieces together and in the end one sentences makes you realize everything. It is so incredible how one sentence can stop you dead in your tracks, and it just completely makes the whole poem. This poem portrays a tragic event in the author's life and the structure makes it all the more powerful.

Writer's Notebook

ABC- Robert Pinsky

"Any body can die, evidently. Few

Go happily, irradiating joy,

Knowledge, love. Many

Need oblivion, painkillers,

Quickest respite.

Sweet time unafflicted,

Various world:

X= your zenith."

This piece really shows the art of poetry. Pinsky went into a lot of thought to make all of these words align, and to actually have a meaning behind the words. It is one thing to write a poem with all of the letters in the alphabet, but it is another to have a purpose behind those words. Although the main concern is the layout of this poem the meaning is also very powerful. Death means different thing to different people, and it is interesting how Pinsky chose this topic to describe in very few words. Death is something that many people cannot describe because they have never experienced it, so his ability to put it in the small amount of words that he used is significant. By using this alphabet technique I feel like it takes some tension out of the subject. No longer is the main focus on death, instead it is on using the letter in the alphabet.

The one thing that I would obviously take from this poem is the layout of using all the letter in the alphabet. When I first saw this poem I thought it would be pretty simple to write something with only those letters in that specific order, but when I started jotting down ideas I started realizing how difficult it truly is. Pinsky put a lot of time and effort into this poem, and although there are few words to prove it, his message is powerful.

Writer's Notebook

"The Great Figure"-- William Carlos Williams

"Among the rain

and lights

I saw the figure 5

in gold

on a red

firetruck"

This poem is really powerful. Williams is able to get his point across with the fewest words possible. The reader may not know every detail about the event, but poetry is more than just details. This phrasing is very refreshing; often times in this world we over analyze everything. We take every little thing we can out of a situation until there is nothing more to say. To me, this poem shows that life doesn't always have to be certain, every detail is not as important as the big picture. In this excerpt he describes the firetruck so plainly that the reader is enthralled to read each line in order to find out a little bit more about it. This poem reminds me of innocence; like when little children tell stories and they talk about the little things that wouldn't matter to anyone else (like the fact that a firetruck is red) you can't help but to smile. This poem is not about realizing the true meaning of the author, instead it is about sitting back and looking at something for what it truly is.

The technique that I want to apply to my own writing is the simple imagery. Often times when readers think of imagery they think of elaborate sentences and various details, but sometimes the most descriptive scenes have the simplest words. By condensing the details into a couple words you take every word for what it is, as if the moment was frozen in time. This scene has a lot going on in it but only a few words to describe it. It is a raining night and there are lights everywhere and it is hectic and all that can be heard is the sirens, but the only thing Williams lets on to is the firetruck. By isolating the details he takes the chaos out of the story, and this way he can control the focus of the reader.

Writer's Notebook

Uphill- Christina Rossetti

"Shall I find comfort, travel sore and weak?

Of labor you shall find the sum.

Will there be beds for me and all who seek?

Yes, beds for all who come."

This poem uses an ongoing metaphor to describe life. This layout of the poem makes it seem like a conversation is going on between two people. This poem portrays a sense of reassurance and promise. The diction in this poem is very friendly and makes you want to continue reading. The diction helps with the metaphor that is being portrayed in this poem. The beginning is talking about the journey through life and how there is always room and something will always come up and then at the end it is reassurance that there will be peace when life ceases to exist. This poem is peaceful and reaches out to life in a way that is not expected.

The technique that I want to take from this poem is the use of asking question and then answering them. This helps with the personal sense of the poem. The reader may feel like the writer is directly talking to them. And although this technique may seem like it is not open to interpretation the use of the metaphor allows for creativity to take place. People who read the poem for what it is will see the poem differently than those who look at it figuratively. The questions make this poem unique from many others, especially when interpreting.

Writer's Notebook

Morning Song- Slyvia Plath

"Love set you going like a fat gold watch.

The midwife slapped your footsoles, and your bald cry

Took its place among the elements."

This poem is so pure and mesmerizing. Plath uses simple actions or phrases to explain something so dear to her heart. Her word choice in this poem is so significant onto how this scene plays out in a reader's head. This excerpt shows her simple use of words that signifies the birth of a child. It was such a peaceful encounter and the baby's cry is not something sharp or piercing it simply fits. This poem portrays a mother's interpretation of birth and true love for a child. Morning is seen to be the beginning of the day that is very peaceful and serene. And in this poem morning signifies a new life and a new beginning. The way that Plath describes her emotions and scene shows her compassion for her child through actions rather than just words.

The literary technique that really had a crucial role in the poem is the imagery. How Plath describes this surreal moment for a mother makes the poem so realistic and captivating. Her love is so modest in the poem. She describes how she is no more your mother than the clouds, but at the same time she is so enthralled by the new life that she moves to every noise. Plath also uses many words that relate to the morning aspect that she is trying to portray such as "cloud that distills" "dull stars" and "rise like balloons." By making connections with nature she is able to have a very calm tone which really describes a morning and the growing love between a mother and child.

Writer's Notebook

We Wear the Mask- Paul Laurence Dunbar

"We wear the mask that grins and lies,

It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes-

This debt we pay to human guile;

With torn and bleeding hearts we smile," (lines 1-4)

This small excerpt from the poem shows despair and grief behind the people wearing the mask. Dunbar really tries to portray a sense of denial and hiding behind the mask or shielding yourself from the rest of the world. This poem reminds me of slavery and the cruelty displayed towards minorities in the United States. There is always going to be someone who is picked on or someone that people are against, back then it was African American people, other times in history it was Asian Americans, and now it is Hispanics. These people have to hide behind all their hard coming because they realize that no one will give them sympathy. This poem shows that they those people don't want to be known for being weak and regretful, but instead they wanted to be remembered as being strong and putting up with all the things that occurred in their lives. The mask is symbolic of everything being okay, and they would rather have the world see them as something they are not than know them for something they are.

The technique that really stands out to me in this poem is the use of pathos. Dunbar's word choice plays a key part in developing pathos. The whole poem is about describing their turmoil with words instead of with events and occurrences. Instead of telling about times when they were hurt they indirectly talk about the good times. The poem talks about how people don't want the world to see their pain but by saying this the reader can see what these people are actually going through. "Why should the world be over-wise, In counting all our tears and sighs?" This quotation shows how the author talks about what they don't want the world to know, which helps the development of pathos. By pointing out that they would rather be seen as happy than as sad it stresses the point of sad an why they feel this way. The mask helps with the development of pathos as well because it shows the importance of the mask and why the people are wearing it. This poem shows that even though people's situations might be horrid they would rather pretend to live happily than face their life.

Chapter 26:Irony

Lit/Prof

"A Good Man is Hard to Find"--Flannery O'Connor

In this chapter Foster talks about how irony trumps over everything else, every other chapter in the book has no meaning if irony is involved. He proves how significant it is by mentioning it several times throughout the book but saying that it was too big of a topic to handle and to wait until a later chapter. It is interesting that he decided to put irony as the last chapter of the book instead of the first since it is at the highest importance. Instead, he built up and used the as if it were the grand finale.

In “A Good Man is Hard to Find” irony plays a key role in how the story plays out. The story starts out with a family trying to make a decision on where to go on vacation, while the grandmother wants to go to Tennessee her son wants to go to Florida. In order to prove her case the grandmother says that they shouldn’t go to Florida because there is a killer on the loose named the Misfit. But the family disagrees and starts on their vacation. On the way there the grandmother continues to tell her stories about her past, about when times were better and when you could trust people. As she tells her stories she tells about a house that has a secret compartment that is only a ways down the road. The eager grandkids really want to see it but on the way the get into a car accident. A car comes to help, but in that car is the Misfit and he ends up killing all of them.

The irony all really starts when she begins talking about the Misfit and joking about how if they go to Florida then they might get murdered. Another ironic part of the story is at the beginning of the story when the grandkids were saying that the grandmother couldn’t stay home because she couldn’t miss anything, she always wanted to be involved. In the end though, this got her into a lot of trouble and because of her continuous talking and stories the Misfit decides to kill her. But the irony doesn’t end there, the reason they wreck their car is because they are going to the house with the secret compartment, which the grandmother later recalls is actually in Tennessee.

Foster saves this chapter until the end in order to stress the importance that irony plays in a story but also to give examples and relate to other chapters when explaining it. No matter what the intentions of the author may be, presenting irony into a story changes the level of comprehension and enhances the response of the reader.

Chapter 25:Don't Read With Your Eyes

Lit/Prof

"Barn Burning"--William Faulkner

In this chapter Foster tells readers that sometime you have to read from a different perspective in order to get a full understanding of what is going on in a story. For example when you are reading literature from a different time period you should think as if you were a person from that time. He also explained that sometimes the main topic of a book is not the main focus; it is in fact an allusion to the main idea. This is why he states the title of this chapter as don’t read with your eyes. This pun is meant to say that don’t simply read the words, instead look for meaning behind those words.

In “Barn Burning” there are two view points that are supported in the story. One is the emotions of the young boy towards his father and the other is the story behind what his father is doing. The father has been in trouble several times by the law. Whenever a neighbor tells him something that he doesn’t want to hear, like in the beginning when the man tells him to keep his pig locked up, he goes and burns their barn down. The man has trained his son to stick up for him in court and say that he is innocent and whenever the trial is over the family moves to the next place. While the mother is unsupportive of her husband’s actions she is aware she can do nothing about it. The boy though, repeatedly tries to sell his father out at court and whenever his father tries to burn the barns he runs after him.

When they move to a new location and the father ruins the expensive rug he decides to get revenge and plans on burning the barn down instead of paying for the rug with ten bushels of corn. The boy has many negative thoughts about his father and wishes he could run away and not have to deal with all the troubles. As the man goes to burn the barn the boy runs after him and tells the people where his father is. As the little boy is running away from the scene he hears two gun shots and he knows from then on he no longer has to worry about his father’s burning past.

When first reading this story you may think that it is all about the father getting revenge on all the people he dislikes when really the story is about the little boy’s opinion of his father and how he makes a difference. This is what Foster means when he is speaking in this chapter, if you read this a certain way then you don’t get the same reaction as you would another way. By interpreting the story you can better understand why the story was told in the manner that it waas presented.

Chapter 24:Illness

Lit/Prof

"The Yellow Wallpaper"--Charlotte Perkins Gilman

In music artists often times compose songs about what they are going through in life or things that are happening around them. With the same approach Foster describes in this chapter of the book that authors often times write about illnesses or sickness that are surrounding them or they have encountered. He explains that each era has an illness that is used most commonly in writing. In early times it was consumption while in the present age it is AIDS. For some writers giving a deathly illness to a character is just a way to dispose of an unwanted member of the plot but for others this is a way to explain experiences that they have went through and show other people the traumatic affects that it has on the victim and their supportive people.

In this short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman the main character is suffering from a nervous disorder. She is forced to stay in a house that her husband rented in order to recuperate so that she may return to her normal lifestyle which includes a young child. Whenever they moved into the house the woman was deeply perturbed by the yellow wallpaper that surrounds the room where she is forced to stay most of the time. As time progresses she becomes so obsessed with the ugly wallpaper that she begins to see things. She no longer focuses on other things in her life like family or events; instead she only focuses on her health and the yellow wallpaper. The narrator thinks that in the wallpaper is a woman, in many different forms, trying to break out. Whenever the woman does get out (during the day) she sees her crawling around in order to be unnoticed by anyone else. By the end of the story the narrator tears off all the wallpaper and sets the woman free.

This story is very symbolic and has a deeper meaning than what is foreseen. The woman that is stuck in the wallpaper is in essence herself. She is no longer allowed to live her own life and is forced to conform to her husband’s desires. Whenever the “woman” escapes from the wallpaper and is creeping around in order not to be seen, it is like whenever the narrator is writing or doing something she is not supposed to be doing. She has to be very secretive and sneaky in order to allow herself the little independence that she desperately needs. Whenever she breaks the barrier between the wallpaper and herself, her sanity is all but gone. She no longer tries to hide her disease or how she truly feels instead, just like the woman in the wallpaper she creeps around sullenly.

In this chapter Foster shows readers that authors don’t simply use disease to make a sappy ending, instead it is way more personal. In both music and literature the writer tries to make a connection with the listener while still pertaining to their own lives.

Chapter 22:He's Blind For a Reason

Foster's Ideas

“There are a lot of things that have to happen when a writer introduces a blind character into a story, and even more in a play. Every move, every statement by or about that character has to accommodate the lack of sight; every other character has to notice, to behave differently, if only in subtle ways. In other words, the author has created a minor constellation of difficulties for himself by introducing a blind character into the work, so something important must be at stake when blindness pops up in a story. Clearly the author wants to emphasize other levels of sight and blindness beyond the physical. Moreover, such references are usually quite pervasive in a work where insight and blindness are at issue.” (pg 202/03)

Foster proves in this quotation that introducing a blind character into a piece or literature is quite a challenge for authors. When authors do decide to make a character blind they have to think of the consequences and reactions as well as all other aspects of the story and how it would pertain to this physical disability. There is a lot of work involved in ensuring that a blind person is represented correctly and that the character is authentic. Sometimes its more work for the author to make a blind character than it is the significance of the blind person in the story. Usually when a blind person is involved they are meant to be a symbol, something for other (main characters) to thrive off of. Ironically enough sometimes blind characters are used to help the sight of other (symbolically of course).

In the “Cathedral” Carver introduces the blind man to help the narrator see things in a different light. By introducing something different than what the narrator was accustomed to he had to conform to his wife’s desires to accept the man and along the way learned a lot about himself. Although Carver could have chose someone of a different race, religion, or ethnicity to represent something out of the normal he chose a blind man so that the narrator would have a sense of remorse for acting the way he did at the beginning of the short story. This also gave the narrator time to adjust without offending his guest, because the man was blind he could not see the face of disgust when he walked into the house but at the same time he could not see the face of approval when they were drawing the cathedral together.

Foster makes a valid statement by explaining the significance of blind characters in a novel; not only that but how difficult it may be for the author to inquire a way to fit them into the novel. Like Foster said there is usually a good reason why an author would put a lot of effort into having a blind man teach the lessons.

Chapter 20:Seasons

Lit/Prof

"Spring"--Charles Simic

This poem by Charles Simic is representative of Foster’s ideas of seasons and how they affect literature. According to his beliefs (and many other people) whenever we think of spring we think of new life and peace, summer as romance, fall as harvest and tiresome and winter as death. This approach to the seasons is common in literature; whenever a story is set in the summertime there is a chance that it will involve some romance and if it is based in the winter there may be a hint of dismay. Authors stick to what is known by all readers instead of trying to persuade them to change their beliefs, but this is not to say there has never been a new beginning of life in the middle of autumn.

“Spring” starts out with exactly what the title is all about: what most people think when they say spring. The snow is melting, the birds are getting ready for a change in weather, and life is once again starting (the older women outside). The women hanging up the shirt on the line is symbolic of a fresh new start which is often a characteristic of spring. Then the poem continues with how the woman’s dress is lifted off of her and all she can do is laugh. This emotion is very expressive of spring, this easiness and virtue that can only be explained by the beginning of a new and lively season.

The way I interpret the poem is that the snow melting and the women’s dress rising off of her are both symbols of taking off all the layers of winter, shedding the gruesome film of the season past and opening the earth for a new beginning. I also think that the lifting of the dress could be interpreted differently. The night dress could directly represent winter itself, by her walking out in her nightdress and it merely being taken off of her it is like she is stripped of winter. It is the world’s way of saying that winter is over in an indirect context.

This chapter proves that season can alter the entire mood of a story and can transform a poem about a man’s visual into a representation of spring.

Interlude:One Story

Foster's Ideas

“One of our great storytellers, country singer Willie Nelson, was sitting around one day just noodling on the guitar, improvising melodies he’d never written down, never heard in quite those forms. His companion, a nonmusician whose name I forget, asked him how he could come up with all those tunes. ““They’re all around us,” old Willie said. “You just reach up and pick them out of the air.”” Stories are like that, too. That one story that has been going on forever is all around us. We- as reader or writers, tellers or listeners- understand each other, we share knowledge of the structures of our myths, we comprehend the logic of symbols, largely because we have access to the same swirl of story. We have only to reach out into the air and pluck a piece of it.” (pg 192)

In this chapter Foster goes back to a previous idea mentioned in the book about all literature and stories being compiled into one story. This idea of one story and intertextuality is the focus of this chapter as he goes more in depth about how in some way or another everything connects.

In this chapter Foster acknowledges the fact that from a young age readers can relate one piece of literature to another. This is the same for writers. Like most of us they grew up reading poetry and reading fairy tales and famous short stories, so when it comes time to writing they have to block this remembrance in order to be somewhat original. Sometimes this is a subconscious action that is fairly easy for writers to do but other times they consciously have to push things out of their memory in order for their own original ideas to burst through. In this way Foster explains that because writers (and all of us for that matter) are prone to recall the events that are familiar or common to them an overlap in ideas is inevitable.

In this quote he continues to back up his idea of “one story” by relating it to music. Literature and music have a lot in common: every song in one way or another is connected. Whether it be through lyrics or rhyme or rhythm in some way or another they all intertwine. Nelson makes a good point by stating that all the tunes are out there it’s just how you interpret them that changes from song to song. The same with literature: all the subjects and topics and characters are out there its just how the author chooses to portray his or her picture that changes each novel, poem, fairy tale, and short story.

Chapter 19:Geography

Foster's Ideas

“First, think about what there is down low or up high. Low: swamps, crowds, fog, darkness, fields, heat, unpleasantness, people, life, death. High: snow, ice, purity, thin air, clear views, isolation, life, death. Some of these, you will notice, appear on both lists, and you can make either environment work for you if you’re a real writer. Like Hemingway. In “The Snow of Kilimanjaro” (1936) he contrasts the leopard, dead and preserved snow on the peak, with the writer dying of gangrene down on the plain. The leopard’s death is clean, cold, pure, while the writer’s death is ugly, unpleasant, horrible. The final result may be the same, but one is so much less wholesome than the other.” (pg 173/74)

This passage from the book uses many descriptive words to describe location. By giving numerous examples of both high and low Foster stresses the significance of geography in a book and proves why they are of key importance. While low and high represent physical location it also can mean emotion or feeling. Foster proves that emotion can be involved with his examples such as “life”, “death”, and “unpleasantness.” While this is a generalization of these words it helps for the reader to interpret what the author intended when he talks about geography.

In “The Snow of Kilimanjaro”, Hemingway shows a contrast between two deaths with the use of both emotion and location. The leopard’s death is high, which is associated with cold (snow peak) and pure because he is softly covered by a snow blanket. The writer’s death however, is low which is associated with unpleasantness and the fact that the cause of death was gangrene makes the experience even more repulsive. This is a good example of how location is significant in literature and that the terms that Foster listed as a reference for low and high is known by all authors.

I think this idea of geography will further my understanding of literature. This just proves that sometimes the plot is more significant than perceived. There is a reason behind every story line and a reason behind every location that the author chooses.

In “The Scarlet Letter”, geography plays a vital role in how the novel is distinguished. The book takes places in a New England colony where the government and people were often seen as corrupt. This location allows for interpretation of the place as a whole instead of just the actions by the characters. A different location might suggest different appeals or a change in character personality and may alter the importance of the novel.

Foster proves in this chapter that geography helps to set the tone of the book and may alter the results. A murder in Virginia during the Great Depression may be different than a murder in South Carolina during the same time period. He also proves that geography can be more than just a certain location, it can be up or down or in this case high or low.

Chapter 18:Baptism

Foster's Ideas

“It’s a little like Tolstoy says at the beginning of Anna Karenina about families: All happy families are the same, but every unhappy one has its own story. The rebirths/baptisms have a lot of common threads, but every drowning is serving its own purpose: character revelation, thematic development of violence or failure or guilt, plot complication and denouement.” (pg 161)

This quote says a lot about this chapter and how Foster interprets a reader’s action when it comes to drowning versus baptism. He makes it clear that although the only difference between baptism and drowning is whether or not “she comes up” the intentions behind the actions are far from alike.

In this chapter he introduces baptism as something beyond the religious realm and gives a whole new perspective of the meaning of water in literature. Even if character steps in a puddle of water it can be symbolic for something. Writers often times use water as a symbol of cleansing the spirit or body or as a way for the character to start life anew: hence rebirth or baptism. While stepping in a puddle may not be as life altering as almost drowning it represents a stepping stone to the ultimate change, like in the novel Song of Solomon.

In this chapter though, he doesn’t focus on baptism as much as he does death and drowning. Sometimes the unpleasant events that take place in a story play a more significant role than the joyous ones. Drowning can signify the ending of a conflict, the beginning of internal conflict, self inflicted from guilt, or other things but the action is not as significant as the response to the action. That’s why he phrased the quote the way he did when you think of rebirth you may think of a new life, new beginning, hope, desire, all generally similar ideas, but when you think of drowning there are many scenarios that may change your opinions. While rebirth is change for the better drowning could be: a good thing, a bad thing, an accident, the best thing, an accidental thing, or an action done on purpose. Just like “unhappy families”, drowning raises many questions and sometimes the reason or answer to the problem is uncertain.

Foster tries to prove to the reader that sometimes the most significant events are the ones we can’t explain, the ones that need no explanation. Dysfunctional families are more complex than functional ones just as drowning is more inexplicable than baptism.

Chapter 12: Symbolism

"Here’s the problem with symbols: people expect them to mean something. Not just any something, but one something in particular. Exactly. Maximum. You know what? It doesn’t work like that. Oh sure, there are some symbols that work straightforwardly: a white flag mean, I give up, don’t shoot. Or it means, We come in peace. See? Even in fairly clear-cut case we can’t pin down a single meaning, although they’re pretty close. So some symbols do have a relatively limited range of meanings, but in general a symbol can’t be reduced to standing for only one thing."

Foster explains here a common misconception with symbols, people rely on the fact that a symbol always means one thing, but this is not the case. In everyday life people see what we call symbols like rainbows after it rains or a white flag (which is mentioned in the text) and assume that they can connect the meaning of those symbols to symbols in general. But symbols in literature differ greatly from what we see in everyday life. In novels or short stories authors use symbols to explain things without coming out and saying it. This is a way to allow the audience to bond with the author because they make a personal connection with the book. A symbol in writing is unique because, like suggested by Foster; it can be perceived in many different ways depending on a person.

Once again the Scarlet Letter is a great book to refer to when speaking of symbols. From as simplistic as the letter A on her chest to how her daughter’s attitude is reflective of her bad decisions making the punishment so much harder. The book is filled with religious symbols and little details that make when understood make the book so much more enjoyable.

Sometimes symbols in writing are not noticed by the reader because they cannot relate to a topic or may feel a different way. Other times when a symbol is spotted it can fluctuate from person to person because of experience or knowledge gained in everyday life.

While there are sometimes when a symbol is interpreted different ways by the reader there are also times when a symbol is interpreted different ways by the writing. Symbols can have multiple purposes and the author may be flexible to how it is interpreted. Foster stresses in this chapter (and others) while symbols play a significant role in text if readers do not catch on to these inside relations that the literature may still be enjoy or understood without it. While comprehending the main objective of the author is imperative some could read without analyzing and still appreciate the meaning of the text.

Foster tries to make a point that while outside of literature symbols can stand for one and only one thing, when reading a text the way the reader interprets something can vary. Don’t read a book to get the same out of it as everyone else, read a book to make connections that someone else has yet to make.

Chapter 11: Violence

Foster's Ideas

"It's nearly impossible to generalize about the meaning of violence, except that there are generally more than one, and its range of possibilities is far larger than something like rain or snow. Authors rarely introduce violence straightforwardly, to perform only its one appointed task, so we ask questions...The answers may have to do with physchological dilemma, with spiritual crises, with historical or social or political concerns. Almost never, though, are they cut-and-paste, but they do exist, and if you put your mind to it, you can usually come up with some possibilities."

In this chapter Foster helps readers to further analyze why an author would use violence in a piece of literature. Sometimes authors use violence to prove a point, to get rid of a character, to cause a problem, to solve a problem, or to further a pattern of violent writing. Often times violence is the answer in literature for writers when they want a shift: whether it be shift of tone or a shift in the climax.

As a reader we should question violence in literature by asking questions about why the author would want a character dead or why they chose this method over that one. By confronting these questions we get a better knowledge of what the author was trying to prove and we can better connect with the actuality of the characters.

One book that comes to mind when I think of violence is "The Great Gatsby". From the death of Myrtle to the death of Gatsby, as a reader you begin to question why Fitzgerald would eliminate one of his main characters so near to the end of the book. But the sudden death of Gatsby is a way for Fitzgerald to end the complex relationship shared by Daisy and Gatsby. Also, the series of events helps to support the hidden theme of the book which is about the corrupt American life during the time period.


Another author that is famous for his use of violence is Shakespeare. Many of his plays focus around the use of violence but sometimes the reasoning behind his use of violence is unknown. Without it his playwrights and stories would not hold the same dramatic effect on the reader as they do now.

This quote from Foster proves that sometimes violence isn't even explainable by the authors. But most of the time if we as readers look at the series of events and context then we may be able to decipher the explanation behind the use of violence.

Chapter 9: Greek Myths

Lit/Prof

"Landscape With the Fall of Icarus"

Foster starts out this chapter by stating that myth is a word that is commonly misinterpreted. Whenever we think of myths we think of Greece and Rome and gods and goddesses. But instead he establishes that recent subjects of discussion such as Shakespeare, the Bible, and fairy tales are all considered myths. But back to Greek mythology he talks about how that is the most universal description of a myth and evidence is everywhere, from the names of schools to the names of cities we will always have a little bit of Greek mythology in the United States.

This poem is about the Greek myth of Icarus who is a young boy who is defiant towards his father which results in his death at sea. Both this poem and Musee des Beaux Arts is an interpretation of a picture that was created about this myth.

William’s approach of the poem is much like the approach of the artist who captured the portrait. The artist’s main intention was not to have all eyes on Icarus plunging into the water, instead he wants to capture the landscape and in turn have the main event be seen in the corner of the eye. William takes a nonchalant position when writing the poem by (much like the artist) trying to point out the beautiful landscape. Maybe William believes that Icarus gets too much attention for his death scene and instead tries to capture what is going on around him. Or instead maybe he feels that by drawing the attention away from Icarus and then throwing him into the poem at the last minute will have a greater impact on the reader. Instead of the normal approach of having the main focus of a poem decided early on, he (much like the picture) has Icarus as almost an after thought, something he should mention before the poem ends.

Chapter 8: Fairy Tales

Lit/Prof

"Once Upon A Time" --Nadine Gordimer

Foster establishes that authors use fairy tales because they are one of the most common stories to all people. In this chapter Hansel and Gretel particularly is picked as a common ground for fairy tales. While most people think of fairy tales as magical adventures and happily ever afters Gordimer proves that fairy tales don't necesarily have to be warm and inviting. In "Once Upon A Time" Gordimer begins with her connection with fairy tales and how she was unwilling to write a children's book. It is interesting that she chose the topic she did due to personal experience and fear.

This short story was effective in showing a different view of childhood stories. This less than cheery tale shows the diversity in writing and how authors can have different perspective when they think of fairy tales. Gordimer's story not only address a different option for fairy tales but it also address a problem in everyday society. If we look at this as materialistic objects instead of security we see that sometimes people in our society focus on obtaining the latest version of technology that they don't realize that their obsession is hurting them. While they may feel that staying up to date is the best thing in order to thrive it is evident that their fixation is controlling their life.

In Gordimer's story she proves that sometimes people try so hard not to let something bad happen that they are eventually the cause of it. The happy couple tries so hard to keep all the bad out that they don't realize how much harm they are actually doing. They are so worried about personal safety that their hazardous equipment is the thing that actually hurts them (son) in the long run.

This story is quite ironic because as the family tried to protect itself it actually hurt itself. In the same manner someone wished for Gordimer to write a children's story which resulted in a story that a child should not hear. I think the moral that Gordimer is trying to teach through the writing of this story and the response to the anonymous request is that you shouldn't try to hard, because it will hurt you in the long run. While this story is far from appropriate for children she did what she was requested of by writing a fairy tale with a "happily ever after."

Chapter 7: The Bible

Foster's Ideas

"Still, there was something happening there-a kind of resonance, a sense that there's something meaningful beyond the simple meaning of the words. Peter Frampton says that E major is the great rock chord; all you have to do to set off pandemonium in a concert is to stand onstage alone and strike a big, fat, full E major. Everybody in the arena knows what that chord promises. That sensation happens in reading, too. When I feel that resonance, that "fat chord" that feels heavy yet sparkles with promise or portent, it almost always means the phrase, or whatever, is borrowed from somewhere else and promises special significance. More often than not,...that somewhere is the Bible." (pg 55)

This quote is Foster's way of helping readers spot biblical allusions by referring to them as a musical chord. By doing so he creates a mood that says anything taken from the Bible is distinguishable because it sparkles with promise. This statement is more recognizable in the older days when religion was a key priority but now as he states further on in the chapter the Bible is used for many different reasons, not just quotes. Writers use the Bible for names, character personalities, stories, and titles. People no longer make as strong of a connection with the Bible as before, instead, much like Shakespeare it is another piece of literature for an author to refer to for crediblity when writing.

This quote proves that when Foster reads something that is unworldly he immediately thinks of the Bible. He wants to prove that when people quote from the Bible it is because it is too powerful to reclaim from any other literature, the writer wants the reader to specifically link an event or character to what they worship. The Scarlet Letter is an example of literature that alludes to the Bible. The whole story is about an unfaithful woman who has to wear her adultery on her sleeve. By referring to God throughout the story the reader gets a sense of "promise" that this is about more than the letter A.

This chapter proves the significance of the Bible in literature. Whether it's simply for a title or a theme for a whole book biblical allusions play a crucial role in how literature is interpreted. People react to the Bible differently than they react to other literature. In a way it is a higher authoritative power than what is written in present or past because they have no reason to deny it.

Chapter 5: Intertextuality

Foster's Ideas

"Part of pattern recognition is talent, but a whole lot of it is practice: if you read enough thought, you begin to see patterns, archetypes, recurrences. And as with those pictures among the dots, it's a matter of learning to look. Not just to look but where to look, and how to look. Literature, as the great Canadian critic Northrop Frye observed, grows out of other literature; we should not be surprised to find, then, that it also looks like other literature. As you read, it may pay to remember this: there's no such thing as a wholly original work of literature." (pg 29)

This last sentence characterizes the intentions behind the next four chapters in the book. Foster proves to the reader that literature stems off older literature. He starts by talking about Shakespeare and how authors use his works for credibility and a connection that most readers can make. He then continues on to talk about biblical aspects of literature as well as fairy tales and myths. By bringing into perspective the multiple choices an author has for "outside information" he shows that literature is all interconnected. Sometimes authors start out with original ideas and use an example from another text as a different perspective but other times authors go into writing with the purpose of altering a well known story so that the reader may see the events differently.

This quote from the text fits in perfectly with Foster's idea of intertextuality. He believes that every time a new piece of writing is read it is entered into (as Foster would say) a "barrel of eels." In this aspect everything is connected, so that every piece of literature in some way or another has something in common.

Foster furthers his discussion by saying that all of literature is part of "one story." He is saying that everything that has ever been read, or written, or told combines to create what we know as literature. Although it may seem like every book is different, between personal connections and intertextuality they are more alike than first recognized.

The quote that was taken from the text can be inferred as saying whenever you read a book remember all the books you have read before it and all of the books you will read after it because in some way or another they are related. If a reader can remember this tip then it may help to make more personal connections with the text or other texts to come. This not only helps readers to remember certain characters or quotes from other books but it may also help establish the writer's tone with connection to others. If two stories share a similar story line then (a) one author may have used the other book for credibility or (b) they may share similar writing styles and approach internal conflict or resolutions within a novel the same way.

His idea of intertextuality gives the reader a better understanding of literature as a whole instead of individual novels or writings.

Chapter 2: Acts of Communion

Lit/Prof

"Cathedral" --Raymond Carver

In this chapter of the book Foster talks about communion as something more than asking for forgiveness in religion. Foster says that authors use communion to represent food shared by a group of people in order to establish some significance of the meal. In the "Cathedral" a man tells about his experience with his wife's long time friend who happens to be a blind man. Like many other people who are not accustomed to different individuals he frowned upon the idea of a blind man spending time in his own home. Not only did he feel this would be uncomfortable because he had never met a blind man but some jealousy was present because his wife had worked for the blind man and after he had touched her face she wrote a poem about it.

His opinions of the man first start to change when he offers him a drink. The blind man says he wants scotch with a little bit of water and the man feels a sense of connection with him by saying "I knew it." This helped him realize that although this man lives a vastly different life from his both can still enjoy the same drink in the same way. Foster explains this in his book when referring to this short story saying that Carver does this to allow the narrator to get over his serious hang-ups with people that are different.

Then when the couple and the blind man sit down to enjoy their meal there is a change in tone. The narrator no longer talks about the blind man and him separately, instead, he uses the word WE when referring to how they were eating. This is his way of realizing another connection that the blind man and he share, food and hunger. This change in emotion shows a new respect for the blind man and the line that follows also has high significance. "We never looked back" this short little portion taken out of this story shows the changes made during and after the sharing of the meal, the narrator no longer frowns upon the blind man's presence, instead he considers him a welcome guest in his house.

As the night continues the narrator tries to make to blind man as comfortable as possible and shows his change in character when he offers him a smoke. Then, when they are watching the television show about cathedrals he does everything he can to be considerate of the fact that the blind man has no idea what one looks like. He even goes as far as drawing a cathedral with him. At the end when the blind man tells the narrator to close his eyes and finish the drawing I feel that this is symbolic of the narrator trying to be in the blind man's shoes. Not only has he accepted his way of life but he feels passionate enough to try to comprehend what the poor man has to deal with.

In the end this short story is a prime example about how communion is more than a religious encounter. It can be about people with familiar or in this case different beliefs joining for a common cause. In this story the narrator realizes (through food and beverages) that he and the blind man share more than what is first perceived and is willing to look past his own ways of life to see things in a different light.

Chapter 1: Every Trip is a Quest

Lit/Prof

"What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona" --Sherman Alexie

This short story by Sherman Alexie includes many elements that are present in the first chapter of "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" which focuses on the parts of a quest. Foster focuses on five central components that make up a quest: quester, place to go, reason for going there, challenges and trials on the way, and the real reason for going there. In the story "What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona" the main character, Victor is the established "quester" when he accepts his mission to retrieve his father's belongings after his passing from Arizona. His goal is soon challenged when he realizes he has little money and his tribe is unwilling to pay for transportation due to the economic depletion. After considering many different options a villager by the name of Thomas Builds-The-Fire offers to spare him some money, but in return he wishes to travel with him. Victor feels uneasy about this decision because the two men used to be companion as children but Thomas's story telling became too much for Victor to handle and they were no longer on speaking terms But Victor accepts the offer and they go to Phoenix and collect his father's ashes and a few personal belonging. One peculiar event that the travelers encounter is the "drought" of animals on their way back to the reservation.

In a way this event is a symbol of Thomas's loneliness. He is a loner and is not accepted by anyone else in his tribe because of his continuation to tell stories that no one is interested in. As soon as he takes over to drive, the only animal that they see dies. Their response is also very interesting, saying that he must have committed suicide. This event helps Victor realize what Thomas is going through, he has no one and could eventually (much like the rabbit) be unable to stand it. When Victor states he is willing to drive as a sign of giving a hand to Thomas, not because he doesn't want to drive but as a symbol that someone will be there to help him. This event is one of the most important in the whole story; it establishes the true meaning behind the quest. Victor did not simply go to collect an old truck and his father's ashes; instead he was there to show Thomas that even though they are no longer friends he is not willing to see him suffer.

This trip symbolizes a changing relationship between Victor and Thomas, although Victor knows that when they are back in the reservation they will never again become friends this is alright with Thomas because of the connection they made on the trip, he knows he can let go. After the trip they have a similar understanding and respect for each other, this is evident when they are talking about what to do with their share of the ashes.

Overall this story illustrates the main points of a quest established by Foster in his book but it also proves that in some cases the intentions of a quest may change along the way. In a story the author may have a journey for the protagonist to go on but the depth of the story may lie within the lesson learned along the way.