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How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines

Nonfiction | Reference/Text Book | Adult | Published in 2003

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Book Brief

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Thomas C. Foster

How To Read Literature Like A Professor

Nonfiction | Reference/Text Book | Adult | Published in 2003
Book Details
Pages

314

Format

Reference/Text Book • Nonfiction

Setting

2000s

Publication Year

2003

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

Lexile Level

1150L

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Super Short Summary

In How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Thomas C. Foster teaches readers to uncover deeper meanings in literature through thematic and symbolic analysis, discussing elements like travel, communion, archetypes, and weather. The book connects literature to universal stories and encourages understanding texts within their historical context. Sensitive topics such as violence and illness are discussed.

Informative

Contemplative

Inspirational

Reviews & Readership

4.0

39,064 ratings

63%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Thomas C. Foster’s How To Read Literature Like A Professor is widely praised for making literary analysis accessible, blending humor with insightful commentary. Readers appreciate its engaging style and clear examples, though some find it overly simplistic and repetitive. Overall, it’s recommended for those new to literary theory.

Who should read this

Who Should Read How To Read Literature Like A Professor?

A reader who enjoys How To Read Literature Like A Professor by Thomas C. Foster is typically a literature enthusiast, student, or educator who seeks deeper understanding of literary themes, symbols, and patterns. Comparable to the audiences of Reading Lolita in Tehran and The Elements of Style.

4.0

39,064 ratings

63%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

Character List

William Shakespeare

An iconic English playwright and poet whose work, filled with universal themes and memorable characters, plays a foundational role in literature; often referred to for his profound influence on language and storytelling.

A celebrated American author known for her rich, mythologized narratives and themes centered on African-American culture and history; her literary contributions provide significant insight into the cultural experience.

An influential Irish author whose innovative storytelling and use of Modernist techniques impacted 20th-century literature; famous for works like Ulysses that creatively draw from classic myths.

A renowned American author known for his succinct prose and innovative use of irony, whose works, such as The Old Man and the Sea, display elements familiar in religious narratives.

Book Details
Pages

314

Format

Reference/Text Book • Nonfiction

Setting

2000s

Publication Year

2003

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

Lexile Level

1150L

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