Othello: Applying New Learning?

After reading my book on how to read literature, I wanted to read a book that I could apply my new learning to a piece of literature. The book I read, How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster. While I was reading the book, he mentioned that many of the literature and pieces of writing today, refer to Shakespeare and the Bible. So, In order to be able to understand and identify the allusions and references made to Shakespeare's works, I would have to read some myself.

I desperately searched my house for a copy. I just so happened to find Othello on my bookshelf. Othello was one of the many Shakespearean works that Mr.Foster said was commonly referred to.

As I began to read, I quickly realized what a challenge it was to read Shakespeare's work. The language used is so difficult to understand. I barely understood the first page, even though the person who was commentating was kind enough to put in annotations of what certain words or phrases meant.

But there are some good signs. The things we learned in class from Romeo and Juliet have helped me a lot so far. One example of this is when the characters bite there thumbs. If I had not read Romeo and Juliet in class, I would never have understood the significance of this gesture. The way the gesture was almost simulacrum in both books.

I want to be able to eat, drink, consume a Shakespearean book so that I can be a better reader.  Although reading this book will be difficult to read, possibly boring even, I feel like, if I persevere, I will be better able to comprehend other works of literature.

How to Read Literature Like A Professor: Part 4

Have you ever read a story and thought that you read a story that was like it? Well, Thomas C. Foster thinks that the stories today, no matter what genre, all are related in some way. Now there are no completely original stories in the world.

What?

Yeah.That's what I thought too. but, as always, he can support himself. He admits that he doesn't know what that one story exactly is, but he has a guess. We write about what it means to be us. We write about what it means to be a living thing. We write about what it means to be human. 

He says that originality is almost impossible. The very way you think has been shaped by the writers' works which you have read before. But referring to others work can be a good thing. It adds depth to your work and allows the reader to make connections. Basically, when you write, you are accessing your brain's database of others' works that you read and applying it to your own work. Even when you purposely avoid connecting your work with others' work, their work is influencing yours.

This is called intertextuality.

Another concept he mentions is archetype. Archetype is another word for pattern. Throughout many works, we can see patterns forming in the texts. Examples of archetype include a quest, a form of sacrifice, flying, etc. These all help add to the effect of the text the more they are used, not like cliches. 

After reading his argument for his point of view, I have been moved by his writing and now agree with him.

Do you?

New Book: And the Mountains Echoed By Khaled Hosseini

I have been told by my friend Suraj, that this was a good book. When I first heard the title I was like, what in the world, that sounds so lame. But, after I saw that Suraj had made a blog post on it, I knew it was a good book, because you only make posts on good books. So, as I looked at the post, I saw that he had posted a link. I clicked it and it took me to a website where I could read the book. I got it, and here I am, talking about my first impressions of the book.

As I read the first few pages, which was a story in a story. Right away, that got me hooked. The idea of putting a story into a story was really smart and I liked it. The imagery and diction of the first few pages also reeled me in. As I read a bit more, I realized the story reflected the rest of the actual story too. That also made the book that much better.

A few things I didn't like about the book was that there was a lot of emotional engagement, but not enough action. But that's just me. I like books with fast-paced action. Although this book wasn't exactly my kind of book, I have really enjoyed it so far, and I think you should read it too.

This is a PDF copy of the book.
This is a Epub copy of the book.

Fahrenheit 451 Theme Handout

Fahrenheit 451 Theme Notes Handout

Theme: Engaging with difficult, uncomfortable thoughts and experiences is the only route to true happiness.

Faith Scully, Aleah Ellis, Jiwoong Jang

Bell 6

Visual-Timeline

Examples From The Text

“He wore his happiness like a mask and there was no way of going to knock on her door and ask for it back.” (Bradbury, 9)

“People are having fun? ‘Committing suicide! Murdering!’” (Bradbury, 83)

“Later, in a month or 6 months, and certainly not more than a year, he would walk along here again, alone, and keep right on going until he caught up with the people.” (Bradbury,157)

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1967. Print.

Connection of Theme and Story

This theme is important to the understanding of the story because it relates to Montag’s journey from the difficult feeling of emptiness and depression when he realized what horrific things firemen actually do in his society to the feeling of joy and happiness when he found a new society with Granger and others who cherish books and their impact on the lives of citizens in a society.

Real World Connection

Our real-world connection, “Scientists found that those who suffer hardships are happier long-term”, connects to our theme by analyzing a scientific study proving hard times lead to future happiness, and this is important because many people are experiencing hardships, so it’s vital to know they will find greater happiness after those events.

"Scientists Find Those Who Suffer Hardship Are Happier Long-term." NewsComAu. N.p., 17 Dec. 2013. Web. 11 Mar. 2015. <http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/scientists-find-those-who-suffer-hardship-are-happier-longterm/story-fniym874-1226784735514>.

How to Read Literature Like A Professor: Part 3

Well. This time around, I learned some new things I thought that were really cool. One of the things I learned was that, in literature, violence is almost never accidental. The death of a character can cause many things in the plot. It can be there to make action happen, cause complications in the plot, and put other characters under stress. Now that I have read this, I see how the violence in the books I have read affect the rest of the plot. For example, in Inheritance by Christopher Paolini, the final battle that takes place helps develop action in the plot. The death of certain characters put stress on other ones. This clearly shows how violence affected the plot in this text.

Another thing I learned is that almost everything is a symbol. But the symbols don't just have one meaning, they have different meanings for different people. There is no exact meaning to a symbol. But there is one, if it is an allegory. An allegory is a way to communicate one single idea and is straight forward. No ambiguous nonsense. So, after I got the difference between the two right, the author moved on. He gave examples of how the simplest most non-connected things, can have symbolism. The example I enjoyed the most was from A Passage to India, by E.M. Forster. The example of symbolism from the book is when they go into a cave. Adela, the main person in this scene, goes into a cave with a group of people, When she goes deeper into the cave, she thinks that something is happening, and runs out in fear. The cave seems to symbolize her darkest fears and anxieties. So, as we see here, symbolism can be found in many places.

As I continue to read this book, I think I will learn more and more about literature and the many things that affect its meaning. I hope that eventually, one day, I will be able to analyze and enjoy literature at a different, more deep level.

How to Read Literature Like a Professor: Part 2

Here we go again. The new strategies I have been learning from this book so far have been amazing. Today I will discuss a question I have been thinking about for a long time, hoping this book would answer the question.

The question: Did the author really mean to add all the allusions people seem to see?

The answer,according to Thomas C. Foster is a trifling yes. He explains his view though, through out the chapter. And I must admit. It's legit.

He explains how works of writing today are based off of other works, created in the past. The examples he provides leaves no doubt. One such example is Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom! (1936). The title is an allusion to the bible and the characters allude to Greek Mythology, showing the clear influence the Bible and Greek mythology had on the book.

Another example of alluding to previously completed works by more modern books by authors can be seen in Joyce's Ulysses, Order, and Myth  which alludes to Homer's Odyssey. Joyce's book follows Homer's plot, but the setting is the modern world. In Homer's version, Odysseus goes to the underworld, but in Joyce's version, Ulysses goes to a cemetery instead.

The question then becomes, what about the pre-1900's authors who didn't have other works to look at?

Well, the answer is clear. Before the 1900's, most authors had some kind of experience with the bible or ancient mythology. So, they were clearly influenced by those works, as can be seen in their masterpieces.

So, I truly do believe, that in most cases, yes, the author did really mean to add all the allusions people seem to see.