Literature Like A Professor By Thomas C. Foster

How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster will not grant you some innate capability to comprehend complicated texts, and it will most definitely not establish your position in society as a“professor.” Coincidentally, Foster’s novel demonstrates an essential quality of Literature: placing the reader fast asleep. However, that is not to say the novel isn’t good; the novel is simply not a “joy read.” The book not being particularly enjoyable has nothing to do with the manner in which it was written, but more to do with the educational aspect of it. Being forced to do something is hardly ever enjoyable. Regardless of my thoughts on the novel, it was at the very least—eye opening. In Foster’s novel, multiple topics are discussed
and explained, including the hidden meanings behind monsters, symbols, and sex. However, the overarching concept of the novel is that everything is really not what it seems. While I possessed some prior knowledge regarding the interpretation of texts, reading this novel certainly gave me a new perspective on Literature. It simultaneously made me rethink the meaning of every book I ever read. For instance, Winnie the Pooh—is he really hungry or is the honey he eats a sexual desire that he is constantly trying to satisfy? And just like that it ruined my childhood. I have absolutely nothing to hide, but yeah, I missed it. When I read Dracula, I really whole-heartedly believed there was nothing peculiar about Dracula sucking blood. I mean he is a vampire, it’s what they do right? Wrong. It did not occur to me what being a vampire actually entails. Somehow I was supposed to realize that a vampire is “an older figure representing corrupt outworn values” (Foster 19). Due to a lack of understanding, I also did not register why Mina Harker represents female strength. But suddenly Bram Stoker’s Dracula instantly clicked. Everything I had missed just put into perspective what I have yet to learn. I realized Dracula to be a figure who represents the corruption of innocent women. Mina Harker is in fact a heroine who defies the temptation and corruption of Dracula. This view gives me a new level of respect for Dracula which I really didn’t have before. Any book written during the Victorian era which promotes women as something other than objects of sexual desire earns my respect. You can call me blind because I still don’t see it. In regards to the right answer that is. I have reached the conclusion that there is no possible answer to anything. This is true especially when trying to define the meaning behind a symbol or if there even is a symbol to begin with. Everytime I look at lyrics, Literature, or even just life I never seem to find absolute answers. Deeper meanings to possibly irrelevant possibly overlooked words and thoughts. And yeah, sometimes I believe the conclusions I reach are genius only to realize a major flaw in the logic of my “understanding”. Some fundamental inadequacy present in the development of my brain right? Well perhaps to some degree the inadequacy of my brain is too blame, but not entirely. These thoughts have all accumulated after the lack of credit I’ve given to my myself. The fear of being wrong has controlled my ability to truly believe the conclusions which I make on my own. Almost as if the confirmation of other people will suddenly make the same idea the truth. But that is not what “deeper” meanings are about. “Listen to your instincts… [they] probably mean something.”(Foster 107). Interpretation is open to suggestion and the true meaning behind symbols are the meanings you find and give them. To some degree this notion allows me to take a deep breath and finally trust my own instincts without my peers verifying what I already know. Now the first thing which actually captivated my attention was of course sex, well not the action or even the product (especially not the product) but the very intriguing concept that everything has a sexual nature, “Tall buildings?
Male Sexuality. Rolling landscapes? Female sexuality. Stairs? Sexual Intercourse.” (Foster 135). Who looks for such explicit actions in innocent objects? At first it seems silly and maybe even something you can trick a really gullible person into believing, but if you think about it, it makes sense. Describing a structure as “erect” is definitely not uncommon and hills definitely have “curves”. Going up stairs is a repetitive process just like …the alternative. Interestingly enough, the concept which really fascinated me.was the idea of, everything being sex except for when it is actually sex. Exactly. Confusing. Now I always believed writers included such scenes in books for the purpose of selling more copies, as the world is not exactly lacking in perverts. But, I never really thought about the author’s perspective in writing a sex scene. It is, as Foster mentions, “uncomfortable” and definitely not a process I would be willing to describe in overwhelming detail. Yet authors do it all the time. Why would they do it? Simple, the feelings which come with one of the most passionate and intense moments a human can experience. There can be an abundant amounts of mixed feelings or even none at all. Writing a sex scene gives an author nearly infinite opportunities and meanings which can add depth to a character and story. Despite not planning on reading sexually explicit books, this insight gives me the information necessary to analyze future settings in which this topic is
applicable.