How to Read Literature Like a Professor

1. How to Read Literature Like a Professor I stole this from Mrs. Tucker 

2. Chapter 1: Every Trip is a Quest Purpose: Every story is a character going on a journey. 5 elements to the journey: • Quester • Place to go • Reason to go there • Trials • Real reason for the quest (what the quester learns throughout the journey) Example: Toy Story • Woody is the Quester 2. Goes to save Buzz Lightyear 3. It is Andy’s favorite toy; to save face with other toys 4. Escaping Sid’s house 5. Learned about friendship and sharing

3. Chapters 18: If She Comes Up, It’s Baptism • Pay attention to water!!!! When a character goes under water and when they surface from water, or when it rains and they are in the rain, it is extremely symbolic (it is also symbolic if they don’t come back up!). Basically, it is a baptism, or a re-birth. • When characters experience a change, physical or emotional, it represents baptism, or rebirth. Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNTkowt2MvU

4. Chapter 14: Yes, She is Christ Figure too! On page 126, 128-29 of HRLLP, there are 2 lists. If characters exhibit traits from that list, they are Christ figures. Typically, whenever there is a sacrifice in literature, think Christ figure!!! • Crucifixion (wounds in hands, feet, side, head…crown of thorns); ressurection • Self-sacrificing • Christ pose with arms stretched out • 33 years old, age of Christ • Walk on water/turn water into wine (water element) • Forgiving • 12 disciples or followers • Betrayed by a friend

5. Christ figure in Captain America • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRHF2Qb-C9U What makes Captain America a Christ figure in this clip??

6. Chapter 21: Marked for Greatness What do the following have in common??: • Harry Potter • Frankenstein’s Monster • Tom Robinson (To Kill a Mockingbird) • Ironman (Tony Stark) • Thor at the end of Ragnarok • Scar from Lion King • Augie from the movie Wonder

7. Chapter 21: Marked for Greatness • When a character has some physical handicap, scar, deformity, birthmark, etc. in literature…think about its purpose. Why “mark” a character? • Ask yourself, where is it located and is that symbolic? • Did the character already have the scar before the story opened, or did they receive it during their journey? • How is the character treated because of their “mark”? • How are they defined by it? • Example 1: Ninja Turtles! They are marked when they crawl through toxic waste and become great when they defeat the evil Shredder! • Example 2: Harvey “Two Face” Dent is also marked for greatness! However, his greatness is not for the good of mankind. It is for evil!

8. Chapter 23: Diseases… • Think about the effects of the following on the human body/mind… • Cancer • AIDS • Scarlet Fever • Cholera • Alzheimer • Parkinson’s • Ebola • Heart Failure

9. Chapter 23: Diseases • According to Foster, Heart Disease is symbolic in literature…as are other diseases. Like a scar or birthmark, think about why an author might give a character a disease, or make them suffer from a heart attack, or have their mind slowly wither away from Alzheimer’s disease. • Example: The Fault in Our Stars. • Isaac had a tumor in his eye and loses sight • Augustus Waters was a basketball star but loses his leg to cancer • Hazel Grace has a cancer that impacts her lungs and ability to breathe.

10. Shawshank Redemption • Watch the clip from the movie Shawshank Redemption. Apply today’s notes from How to Read Literature like a Professor to this clip. Not all of the chapters will apply, but several will.

11. Summer Reading Poster: 1. Three original examples for EACH of the three chapters (9 total). Yes, you may use bullet points to explain how they fit. And yes, if you thought of an example today you may use it as one of your three. 2. Do not forget to include examples presented in the chapter. Directions say three from each chapter. Because examples are obscure, just list titles/authors. You do not need to explain them. 3. We will present posters on Monday!!!