Reed Way Dasenbrock’s Do We Write the Text We Read? focuses on how the reader’s thoughts about a novel originate with pre-existing theories and how those theories can be altered and revised as the text permits. Dasenbrock argues that through this passing theory, readers develop a sense of value for the literary work and can progress their own learning capabilities. Dasenbrock utilizes other theorists to make this point, specifically Stanley Fish who postulates that individuals read texts differently because they interpret differently. He explains that interpretations of the reader are created through their beliefs and furthermore, that because people have such different interpretations, they are able to bring many different concepts to a community of readers. That community is built by the common assumptions of the members of the community. Dasenbrock adds to this theory by mentioning the importance of the dynamic evolution of texts that happen across time. Fish, as Dasenbrock points out, states that the certain interpretations we hold are of the only truth we should accept and that all other sources, due to their difference, register as false. He disproves Fish’s argument by bringing forth the idea that to say another individual’s beliefs are different than our own is to say that we understand their beliefs completely. He suggests that, moreover, we can imply similar things by saying different words. There exists many differing ways to observe, to interpret, and to
How to Read Literature like a Professor Annotations Chapter 1 Every Trip Is a Quest (Except When It’s Not) Summary: Challenges must be faced during/on the path to the destination. Commentary: you must learn self reliance before relying on others (pg 5) Commentary: There will always be someone who tries to contradict what someone says to get their point across.
In How To Read Literature Like A Professor, by Thomas C. Foster, the main purpose is to show readers how to go into depth with the meaning of things seen or talked about when reading literature. It highlights symbols in texts and shows how every single thing can be significant. It also talks about literary sources like greek mythology, the Bible, Children text, and Shakespeare (which he refers back to a lot ), that many stories use to form their plots or quests. The book talks about a topic and then gives the reader and example passage to refer to when talking about that that specific subject. For example, when talking about violence in Chapter 11, Foster analysis Robert Frost’s violent poem called “Out, Out-” and it’s true meaning.
Reading and writing should be seen as interactive subjects rather than just reading or writing words on paper in ink. John Beans suggests that individuals should look at both reading and writing as conversations. In his article “Reading and Writing as Conversations” Bean states by envisioning yourself having a conversation with the author, referenced individuals, and characters, readers are more likely to better understand the text. Texts are seen as different conversations each text has a connection to another text. Such as if you were referencing a particular article,book,or quote in your text. Many people have a reason for reading different types of text. Some reasons could simply be because the individual wants to, needs to, discover new
Somebody's novel can have “echoes or refutations” of a book they have never read before.
Mike Bunn in “How to Read Like a Writer” begins with a revelation: that writing is a process in which individual words are specifically chosen and strung together in a way that impacts the reader. With this in mind, Bunn encourages his students to read like a writer. Reading like a writer is different from just appreciating the message. Bunn compares reading like a writer to an architect studying a constructed building. The goal of reading, then, is for students to examine how a piece was constructed with the purpose of recreating a similar effect in their own writing. Bunn establishes the fact that students are made to read so they can learn to write before showing students how to go about this. Before reading, the context should be evaluated, he
In How to Read Literature Like a Professor, author Thomas C. Foster extensively teaches literary conventions that teach a reader how to read between the lines. The main goal of this guide is to help a reader read to a level such as a professor, which entails being able to read analytically. Throughout Foster's literary guide, he sets out essential elements of literature that aid in the ability to read analytically. How to Read Literature Like a Professor focuses on not only external influences, but also in text elements such as structure, themes, and setting. Throughout Foster's guide there are many valuable keys to reading, some of the most prominent in literature being biblical reference, character quests, and character baptism. Chapters
A logical person knows that a flower does not begin as flower, but as a seed. The same person would also know that the type of seed planted determines what type of flower will grow. As a seed germinates, it forms a sprout which eventually matures into a blossom. A Metamorphosis occurs. Ray Bradbury was a logical person and when the seed of advancement was sown, he predicted the plant it would become. Bradbury was born into a rapidly changing world and witnessed the transformation of society throughout his lifetime; therefore, his literary work, Fahrenheit 451, is characterized by the cons of technological progress, the culpability of people in cultural shifts, and the dilution of information for the sake of political correctness.
Through Foster’s many rhetorical devices he provides a knowledgeable guide on how to read literature. The numerous examples he applies allows the readers to have a more thorough understanding. Reading this book can make the experience of reading other books more satisfying, enriching and
In the essay “Reading and Thought”, Dwight MacDonlad talked about the kind of poor reading people are attached to in modern society. MacDonald believed reading materials such as Times and New York Times are too overwhelming for the readers. Readers tend to skim through the reading materials because most of the reading do not have any connections with their daily lives. Moreover, MacDoanld claimed that the readings people do these days are not thoughtful. The readings are rather irrelevant toward the readers. It is because the journalists to produce dull pieces of readings which are meant to be skimmed through without having too much thoughts involved. As the journalists do not have much consideration of the materials they produced. To the journalists the readings they produce are just a series of news that should be read driftly and left behind with no thoughful idea needed to be informed. These effects caused modern society to have a poor reading habits because people do not reflect and give time to think about the readings they did. Readers casually accept the readings even though they do not have provide any resourceful information for the readers.
Carr brings in Maryanne Wolf a psychologist at a University also a writer to speak on her opinion of matter. Wolf directly said “we are how we read” (Carr), Meaning that if we continue to put technology and that efficiency over education and understanding our mental capabilities will continue to decrease over time, we are seeing people struggling with their abilities to understand the words printed before them, people can't make the same kind of connections from one topic to the other like they used to be and no one can read an entire book let alone an article like this one without getting distracted by the smallest
At the time that I have been in the college, I have used some of the strategies named in the introduction of the book “The Norton Reader” such as: Describing, rereading, exemplifying and knowing about the author and the audience. However, it surprised me to know that there were even more strategies than the previously mentioned. Personally, I got some interest, knowing about comparing and contrasting that in the book’s word means: “which analyzes the similarities and differences between or among people, places, things, or ideas.” Because I can see how finding similarities between articles can help the reader to understand them better. Of course, I’m going to use those new strategies in future because they can help me as reader to create strong
Harvey’s theory on using other voices to increase the potential of writing is mostly correct. Any textbook can be built on this idea as most of the information comes from many sources. If you look at science textbook from the past you would notice some information changes over time. As scientists discover new facts this can lead to updates
changing with the times, so knowing what others are doing is vital to adaptation of an author to
In what way do the techniques used in a prescribed text develop ideas and influence your response as a reader? The revenge tragedy, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare is a tale of murder, secrets and lies where a son is called upon by the ghost of his father to avenge his death. Shakespeare uses a range of techniques in order to influence the readers understanding of Hamlets main themes and ideas. The most effective techniques used within the play are the soliloquies that give depth of both character and story, the powerful displays of imagery used within the play, and the dual understanding that emphasizes the connection between king and country. Through these techniques Shakespeare
“Everything we read constructs us, makes us who we are, by presenting our image of ourselves as girls and women, as boys and men” – M. Fox