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Thomas C. Foster’s 'How to Read Literature Like a Professor' serves as a fundamental toolkit for students learning to identify patterns and symbols in fiction. While many students search for a SparkNotes summary to get through assignments, understanding the core concepts of intertextuality and archetype is the real key to academic success.
Foster suggests that literature operates on a specific set of rules or 'grammar.' This includes identifying recurring motifs, such as the quest, which consists of five parts: a seeker, a destination, a stated reason, challenges along the way, and a real reason for the journey. Most often, the real reason is self-knowledge. When reading for class, look beyond the literal plot to see how these structural elements shape the narrative's deeper meaning.
Common human experiences in books often carry symbolic weight. For example, Foster explains that sharing a meal is almost always a form of communion, representing social bonds or their breakdown. Similarly, weather and geography are rarely accidental; rain can symbolize purification or misery, while high elevations might represent clarity or isolation. Recognizing these elements allows you to participate in a more sophisticated level of classroom discussion.
One of the book’s most famous claims is that there is only one story—the human story. Foster encourages students to look for 'intertextuality,' which is the dialogue between different texts. Whether it's a subtle reference to Shakespeare, the Bible, or mythology, recognizing these connections helps readers see how new works build upon established traditions. This skill is particularly useful when writing comparative essays or analyzing character archetypes like Christ figures.
Foster notes that irony 'trumps everything.' If a writer introduces a classic symbol but then subverts it—such as a character drowning in a baptismal scene—the standard rules no longer apply. For your assignments, always check if the author is using irony to flip traditional meanings. Identifying where a text deviates from a pattern is often where the most insightful analysis occurs during a quiz or essay.
A quest consists of a quester, a place to go, a stated reason to go there, challenges, and the ultimate real reason for the trip: self-knowledge.
Look for characters who sacrifice themselves for others, are associated with bread or wine, are often misunderstood, or exhibit traits like forgiveness and suffering, even if they aren't perfect.
It provides a clear framework for students to transition from reading for plot to reading for analysis, making it an essential companion for AP English and college-level courses.
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