Foster explains that political writing is, “writing that engages the realities of its world-that thinks about human problems, including those in the social and political realm, that address the rights of persons and the wrings of those in power-can be not only interesting but hugely compelling” (Foster 117).

Foster argues that “all writing is political on some level,” and that one way to locate political elements in a work of literature is to examine how the lives of the characters fit within the society in which they live.

In this chapter, Foster asserts that when a character flies, it is always heavily symbolic.

Foster then reveals his dislike for programmatic political writing; which he defines as, “… pushing a single cause or concern or party position, or it’s tied into a highly topical situation that doesn’t transfer well out of its own specific time and place” (Foster 117).

LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in How to Read Literature Like a Professor, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Foster says that if you’re wondering whether something in a piece of literature is a symbol, it’s pretty safe to say that yes, it is.

The cave is thought to be closely related to the symbolic HEART, and is often a place where the self and ego unite. They can be secret passageways to an underworld, places in which to make contact with the powers and forces which will eventually make their way into the world of light.

Thomas Foster explores flight as a symbol for various forms of freedom and the danger of falling that comes with that freedom. The freedom may be physical and the flight literal, as in the case of the well-known story of Daedalus and Icarus.

How to Read Literature Like a Professor is a New York Times bestseller by Thomas C. Foster that was published in 2003. The author suggests interpretations of themes, concepts, and symbols commonly found in literature.

Buy used: $5.98. Free 5-8 day shipping within the U.S. when you order $25.00 of eligible items sold or fulfilled by Amazon. Or get 4-5 business-day shipping on this item for $5.99 .

How to Read Literature Critically

1. Figurative language. As you are reading, make note of expressive language such as similes, metaphors, and personification.
2. Structure. Many times an author opts to tell a story out of chronological sequence, perhaps with flashbacks or integrated tales.
3. Influence.
4. Archetypes.

This go-to guide unlocks all the hidden secrets to reading, making it entertaining and satisfying. In How to Read Literature Like a Professor: For Kids, New York Times bestselling author and professor Thomas C. Foster gives tweens the tools they need to become thoughtful readers.

According to Foster, how do memory, symbol, and pattern affect reading Literature? Recognizing patterns in literature can enhance both the stylistic appreciation and comprehension of it, making it easier to read. You just studied 31 terms!

Reading literature enables us to see the world through the eyes of others. It trains the mind to be flexible, to comprehend other points of view—to set aside one’s personal perspectives to see life through the eyes of someone who is of another age, class, or race.

Classic literature is important because it opens up a perspective to different worlds and historical perspectives. Reading classic novels has also improved my overall vocabulary and writing skills because writers from an older time period have unique styles of writing.

Classic literature is bereft of progressive role models with their withering sexism, rampant racism and vapid empty characters. These works and characters are vague, bland or ridiculous, and the reader has to search too hard for meaning.

The classics are the milestones of our literary tradition. They sparked a literary trend because they did it first or they did it best. Other classics become so because they push the envelope. By breaking from tradition and questioning established ideas, these books became markers of creative rebellion and dissent.

My favorite reading practices for classic books

1. Immerse yourself in context.
2. Go ahead, use Sparknotes!
3. Practice annotating (if you want to)
4. Absorb the audiobook.
5. Watch a movie.
6. Read with a friend.

Search of Lost Time

Classic literature is an expression of life, truth, and beauty. It must be of high artistic quality, at least for the time in which it was written. Although different styles will come and go, a classic can be appreciated for its construction and literary art.

Here is a list of the 10 longest novels in Penguin Classics and Penguin Modern Classics to whet your appetite…

• In Search of Lost Time, Marcel Proust (3,408 pages, 6 volumes)
• The Story of the Stone, Cao Xueqin (2,576 pages, 5 volumes)
• Les Misérables, Victor Hugo (1,456 pages)
• War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy (1,440 pages)

Agatha Christie book

1. The Blah Story by Nigel Tomm. 3,277,227 words, which ends up being 7312 pages.

Here are 10 classic novels that will hopefully begin you on a never-ending journey into the heart-soul of literary excellence.

• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.
• Moby Dick by Herman Melville.
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.