Wuthering Heights

The end of this novel shows a new beginning for this family. Wutheirng Heights and the Thrushcross Grange seem they are going to be reunited, but this time they're there with happiness. It no longer is a sad place when someone mourns everynight. Hareton and Catherine seem to have the best of their parents brought into one, now together.

Wuthering Heights

I think it's cool how not only can Heathcliff look forward to finally being able to be with Catherine, the young Catherine is looking forward to her life with Heathcliff. Hareton seems to be the right one for Catherine to be with and a Catherine is finally marrying a person they are happy with, making up for what her mother should have done. "Hareton" is carved in the entrance of the house, just anther sign Hareton was meant to take over the estate.

Wuthering Heights

I just finished reading the novel, and overall it was a good book. I liked that it was a love story since that is my favorite type of story. I'm not sure that the story had a climax. It just kind of went into the falling action. Also, it didn't have a real happy ending like most romance novels, the "happy ending" was only achieved with a death.

Wuthering Heights

Chapters 34
After hearing that people have seen Heathcliff's ghost with another, I know he is reunited back with Catherine. Although it's sad that he died, I know that's what needed to be done throughout the whole book. They can finally be together and that is all Heathcliff ever wanted. Also, now Catherine can marry Hareton on her own free will.

Wuthering Heights

Chapters 32 - 33
I'm wondering why Heathcliff no longer wants to carry out the revenge in Hareton and Catherine just because Catherine reminds him of her mother. I'm thinking it's because he loved Catherine so much he could never do anything to hurt her so now he's going to do the same for her daughter but I'm not sure if I'm right. I'm guessing Catherine and Hareton will get married.

Wuthering Heights

Chapters 30 - 31
I'm wondeirng if the whole reason that Nelly told Lockwood the story was so that he would fall in love with Catherine. Catherine and her mother are very similar, yet Nelly describes the daughter so much better. Earlier, Nelly even said that Lockwood might fall in love with Catherine himself. Lockwood even begins thinking about Catherine leaving Wuthering Heights with him.

Wuthering Heights

Chapters 28 - 29
I liked how the author had Edgar die believing that his daughter happily married Linton on her own free will and he knew nothing about Catherine and Linton being locked in a room and forced to marry. It's cute how after all these years, Heathcliff is still in love with Catherine and says when he dies they will be together in the Earth. They should have been together from the beginning.

Wuthering Heights

Chapters 26 - 27
Why is Heathcliff making such a big deal for Linton to marry Catherine, after all, they are cousins. I feel like he is seeing this as the chance he had with his Catherine and he doesn't want Linton to have the same life as he had. But Linton should be the one to make the last decision. It's weird how both Linton and Edgar are sick.

Wuthering Heights

Chapters 24 - 25
I wonder if Lockwood really will fall in love with Catherine, also, if Lockwood is such a stranger, why is Nelly so open with him. She basically tells him everything about the history of the place. I'm wondering why so many people in the novel get sick and are close to death and die, and if these deaths have a significance in the novel.

Wuthering Heights

Chapters 17 - 23
Why would Heathcliff want Catherine to marry his son if they're cousins? Why doesn't Catherine want Nelly and her dad to know she's going to go see Linton, she should of just stayed with him when he asked her to nurse her back to health. All the characters in the novel are still confusing me but it's beginning to make more sense.

Wuthering Heights

Chapters 16 - 20
I notcied something about a theme with two. Catherine loves two guys, Heathcliff and Edgar. There's the Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, Earnshaws and Lintons, the novel is based on them when they're older and when they're younger. There might be twos to be used as juxtapositiotns, but I'm not sure.

Wuthering Heights

Chapters 14 - 15
Nelly was always one of the very few people that tried to help Heathcliff and Catherine, so I'm not sure why Nelly is trying to stop them from seeing eachother now, especially since Catherine is sick and could die. I hope Catherine doesn't die, but I'm guessing she does because of the "ghost" that appeared in the beginning of the novel. Since Catherine wants to be with Heathcliff, she should make him stay and have Edgar leave.

Wuthering Heights

Chapters 12 - 13
I don't understand how it took Isabella so long to realize she made a mistake, it was clear to everyone that Heathcliff and Catherine loved eachother. I kind of expected Heathcliff to use Isabella to take out all his anger, since she is Edgar's sister. I'm scared that Hindley is going to be able to kill Heathcliff.

Wuthering Heights

Chapters 10 - 11
I'm wondering if we'll ever find out how Heathcliff got his fortune, and if it was really from gambling. If it's so obvious Catherine and Heathcliff love eachother, why does Edgar ask to marry her? She doesn't love him like she does Heathcliff. Also, with Heathcliff allowing Isabella to have affections for him, I feel like him and Catherine being together is just becoming more and more impossible. I want to know if Catherine decides to stay with Edgar or Heathcliff.

Wuthering Heights

Chapters 8 - 9
After reading these chapters, it makes me wonder if Catherine and Heathcliff will ever be together. Even though she married Edgar, she knows and it is obvious that her and Heathcliff were meant to be together. I'm not sure if it's too late for the two of them. Why couldn't Nelly talk to Heathcliff for Catherine, she seemed to always approve of the two of them even though Heathcliff is considered a "downgrade" from Edgar.

Wuthering Heights

Chapters 6 - 7
I'm happy that Nelly is on Heathcliff's side but I'm wondering why he didn't listen to Hindley. The confusion about all the characters in the book and what happened is what makes me even more interested in reading it. I'm wondering why Catherine had to stay five weeks at the Grange, and couldn't just be brought home. Lastly, I want to know how Heathcliff is going to get revenge.

Wuthering Heights

Chapters 4 - 5
I'm confused with all the names and their generations so I'm hoping it'll make more sense later. Also, I'm not sure I can trust everything Lockwood says because he was not actually there when the events he describes happened. It all about what he read or heard from the diary and conversations. Also, Lockwood will describe a person as one way, but their actions show them to be the complete opposite. I also don't think Lockwood actually saw the ghost of Catherine, I think it was just a dream.

Essay Revision 2

Today I worked on making my significance sentences different for each quote, but still supporting the main topic. I'm not sure if my essay is still too much summary. Also, I think I need to work on my thesis more, I still feel like it's a little too broad. I also worked on my conclusion, so that it isn't just my thesis repeated.

Essay Revision

I just spent an hour working on my essay. I felt like I had a lot of quotes and summary, so I tried taking some of that out and adding in the significance part. I still feel like I'm repeating myself a lot because I am running out of things to say so I have to fix that. A lot of my quotes still have the same significance and I'm not sure how to make sure each quote has a different significance that ties in with my thesis.

Wuthering Heights

Chapters 1-3
I'm confused about who the three Catherines all with different last names are, I'm wondering if this book is going to be about three generations. Also, I'm confused about what happened to Catherine and Heathcliff, why he was crying for her back. It seems like she is dead and so maybe he hasn't gotten over her death. This book is interested and makes you want to keep reading to see what is going on.

Wuthering Heights

My Expectations
I picked this book because my mom told me it was a good story about love between a rich girl and poor boy. I like love stories and I was excited when I was able to get my first pick of books. I think it's interesting that this is the only book that Emily Bronte published and that her and her sisters were all authors. I'm excited to read this book and I hope it's as good as I heard!

Catch -22

Chapters 39-42
I just finished all of my summer reading. Overall Catch-22 was a pretty good book, although it not being in chronological order got confusing and it seemed phrases and events were repeated a lot throughout the novel. I thought it was important that Nately's whore was able to stab Yossarian when he accepted Cathcart and Korn's deal, but Yossarian escaped the knife of Nately's whore when he decided not to accept it. At first Yossarian thinks he can save people, but then he realizes he doesn't have control over a person's death. He can't save someone that has been injured badly enough that they're going to die. The book finally explained Snowden's death and it seemed like the climax of the book, even though it was towards the end, so I'm not sure. Yossarian realizes his will to live is most important and decides to try to run away, rejected the offer of being able to be sent home.

Catch 22

Chapters 33-38
I think it't weird that no one would want to pick up Kid Sampson's legs form the beach, I know it's sad but why would people just want to leave them there to stare at? It leaves a gruesome image. Also, when Yossarian goes to Rome with Hungry Joe, it's because his new roomates threw Mudd's stuff out of the tent. But, that was an overreaction, Mudd is dead and Yossarian should accept that. Nately's whore is finally in love with him, but it's not a surprise that is doesn't last. Nately has a rich dad and can pick an girl, but he picks a whore. Dundar dissapears and Nately, Chuef White Halfoat and Dobbs die. This happens after the white soldier appears again. I think this section was more realistic about war itself. The men never seem to be able to accomplish their goal, as soon as they reach their missions, the missions are raised. I was surprised at how upset Nately's whore was when she was told he died. But Yossarian worries about her when he is told Nately's whore and her sister were kicked out of their apartment.

Catch-22

Chapters 26-32
I thought it was funny how Nately could love a whore so much, no matter how mean she is, and that he'd love her because he saw her being rejected and no one wanted her. Yossarian was wounded in the thigh but Aarfy didn't even hear anything. I thought it was weird that Yossarian and Nurse Duckett were seeing eachother because at the hospital Yossarian put his hands up her skirt and she screamed and made it a big deal. I think it's ironc how they say how many talents Orr had, but yet he can't make it back after his plane crashed into the water. I don't understand how Doc Daneeka was killed, but then it seems like he wasn't at the same time.

Catch-22

Chapters 20-25
The book seems to be out of chronological order and I'm wondering if Yossarian is crazy, for he's been walking around naked. The chaplain is an outsider and he always has fears of his family dying horrible deaths, he misses them so much. Milo's way of making money seems odd and like it doesn't make sense, but in the end, it seems he is making money. It's just not really reasonable. Yossarian likes Milo, but yet he doesn't seem like a good character for he bombed his own people. The book doesn't seem like it would really happen if you were in the army.

Catch-22

Chapters 12-19
Sorry, I just saw the comment saying to avoid plot summary. I've noticed that a lot of things are repeated in this book, but i don't know if it has any significance. Yossarian is seen as a complainer but he was the one to move the bomb line, if I were him I would of told people sooner because then I could get more praise. When Chief Halfoat explains how he always steals Captain Blacks car, I thought it was weird that Captain Black doesn't notice or doesn't try to prevent it after the first time. Milo was smart for wanting to supply the fresh food instead of going on missions. Yossarian meets a girl at the night club, and I think it's weird that Yossarian falls in love with almost every girl he likes or meets. But, then Yossarian rips up Luciana's note, even though he loves her and wanted to marry her, so now he won't be able to have any more contact with her. Why did the doctors think it was okay to have Yossarian act as a family's dying son? I think they like to convey the image of how people think war is, even if it isn't necessarily true.

Catch-22

Chapters 6-11
Hungry Joe was a photographer and he had nightmares every night, it always kept everyone up. Yossarian considered him a hero because he had flown more combat tours than any other hero in the Air Force. Major Major was named the new squadron commander. Yossarian wanted to go home and he was told you only need 40 missions. Yossarian asked if he could go home because he had 48, they told him that it is true you only need 40, but there is Catch-22. Regulations say you have to obey order, so even though you've done all your missions, if they tell you to stay, you have to stay. McWatt actually didn't mind the war. Captain Scheisskopf won the red pennant two weeks in a row which no one had done and others began to be jealous. Captain Scgeisskopf even practiced at night so no one would figure out what they're doing next. Many people began accuccusing Major Major of a Communist and saying he looks like Henry Fonda, Major Major began going out in public less and less. He wanted no contact with others and many people didn't seem to mind his absense. Major Major began changing his name when signing documents, first to Washington Irving and then John Milton. Yossarian was the one person that wanted to talk to Major Major because he wanted to get out of the army, but Major Major said he couldn't do it. Major Major got squadron commander instead of Captain Black and this made Captain Black mad. Captain Black made everyone sign loyalty oaths, but one day someone finally refused.

Catch-22

Chapters 1-5
There was a pain in Yossarian's liver and it didn't really go away, but it never got to jaundice. The doctors started not to believe him. Yossarian wanted to send letters to people that he's going on a dangerous mission and will write to them when he gets back, instead of saying the truth, which is that he's just at the hospital. Yossarian just didn't want to leave the hospital because that would mean he has to go back to the war, so he lied about his pains. Eventually he said his pain went away and left the hospital. Doc Daneeka said to just smile and make the best of the war. Doc Daneeka opened up an office and he got no clients, everyone in the area already had their doctor they go to. So, once the doctors began to be called to join the army, he got more and more clients. So, he lied and said he couldn't be enlisted because he's missing a leg. They eventually found out he lied and enlisted him too. The doctors there, Gus and Wes, don't really know anything. Many of the Indians decided to help in the war because they had no where else to go. Catch 22 is said that you're crazy if you want to go on a mission, but you're sane if you don't want to go. But, even if you ask not to go, you still have to go.

Their Eyes Werre Watching God

Chapters 16-20
Miss Turner talks about how she doesn't like black guys, and she says she doesn't like how a light girl like Janie could like a dark man like Tea Cake, she says Tea Cake must of had a lot to get her. Every one tells Tea Cake he is a "lucky man" to be with Janie. There was a hurricane coming and many people were leaving, but Janie and Tea Cake stayed. Water was beginning to come so Janie and Tea Cake realized they had to walk to get away. Janie gets stuck in the water and a dog tries attacking her, so Tea Cake kills the dog to save Janie, but the dog also manages to bite Tea Cake. Tea Cake eventually finds all his friends again. Tea Cake gets sick and they realize it was because of the dog bite and it's too late to get the medication to help him. Tea Cake became crazy and tried killing Janie, so she had no choice but to kill him. Janie goes to jail but they find her not guilty and let her go. Janie says Tea Cake will never be dead until she finishes feeling and thinking.

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Chapters 7-15
Janie didn't get anything from Jody that money couldn't buy and Jody was getting old. Janie finally shot down Jody and stood up for herself, this made him embarrassed in front of his friends and he got mad. He's use to being the one the guys look up to, but he isn't anymore. Jody eventually got sick and died, his kidneys stopped working and it was too late to reverse it. Janie talks about how she really hated her grandma. After Jody's death, Janie has a lot of men coming to try to marry her, but Janie didn't want anyone. She kept saying how she enjoyed her freedom. One day, everyone was at the game, but Janie was in the store, and a man with the nickname Tea Cake comes in to play checkers. They begin hanging out, but people warn her that he has no money, so he may just want her money. Tea Cake says he is a good gambler and that's how he gets a lot of his money. Tea Cake leaves work once in a while to sneak in on Janie at home. Janie begins working with Tea Cake because he doesn't like the time without her. Janie begins to get jealous of a girl named Nunkie who flirts with Tea Cake.

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Chapters 1-6
Janie was raised by her grandma and doesn't know her mom or dad. Janie and her grandma lived wth white people so Janie didn't even realize she was black until she saw a picture of everyone. Janie kissed Johnny Taylor and her grandma got mad and said she was now a woman. Janie didn't love her first husband Logan and cried to her grandma about it, Janie decided that marriage doesn't make love. Janie's grandma told her she would be a fool if she didn't stay with him because he has money and treats her good. Her grandma passes away. Joe tells Janie he wants to marry her so she runs away from her husband Logan to marry Joe. Joe decided to build a store in the town they are staying at and they pick Janie as Mayor. Joe had the big house and all the men gave Joe way, they looked up to him but didn't like it. Joe was very jealous and didn't let Janie show her hair in the store, because he didn't want other men looking at her. But, he never told Janie how jealous he was. Janie and Joe always argue, Joe says she can't do what he asks her to do. Joe slaps Janie because the meal she cooked wasn't good.

What Is The What

Chapters 23-26
Valentino keeps having a dream he is in a river and is teaching kids. He becomes a teacher and he is now known ad Dominic because his drama teahcer only remembered one of the boys' names, so she just called everyone in that class Dominic. He becomes a youth leader, which is a good and paying job. Japan begins helping them. Tabitha joins Miss Gladys' drama class with Valentino. Valentino is chosen to be Noriyaki's, a man from Japan, right hand man. Noriyaki tells Valentino that they're family now. A woman named Deborah comes for dinner and tells Valentino his parents are alive. Miss Gladys' class goes on a trip and the people allowing Tabitha and Valentino to stay with them give the two of them alone time. They have their first kiss in a grocery store. Achor Achor leaves to America and Valentino still hasn't been chosen to go to America, even though it seems every one else has. Noriyaki decides to stay until Valentino leaves. Noriyaki and Valentino take the basketball team on a trip and Noriyaki gets in a car accident and dies. Valentino finds his name is finally on the board, he's going to America. Valentino finds a way to talk to his dad and tell him he want to see him and his mom, Valentino's dad said it wouldn't be a good idea and to go to America, don't lose the opportunity. Valentino's flight to America is delayed because of the September 11 attacks. In America, Valentino and Maria stayed in touch, Maria tried to take her life, the woman in the hospital realized how bad of a life Maria had and took her in. Valentino says he's going to keep telling his story and in 2008 he was able to return to Marial Bai.

What Is The What

Chapters 21-22
Valentino becomes blind during the walk because of all the sand, his eyes swell up. He begins thinknig about Tabitha and how Duluma killed her. This made him almost suicidal and he wanted to get back at Duluma, but he had to let it go. Achor Achor and Valentino get separated on the way to Kenya, and Valentino thinks he would of been a lot more stronger on the way if they weren't separated. Valentino finds Maria, the girl that made him get up when he just wanted to lay down and die. He begins studying all the time but blacks out frequently. Gop awaits his family to come and him and Gop make a bigger house. A room for Gop and his wife, a room for the girls, and a room for Valentino, Achor Achor and three other guys. He goes on a trip to get another ration card and to sell clothes for many. He ends up not making it to Sudan and getting tricked, a man takes his clothes to never come back with the money for them. He gets dissapointed in himself walking back with less than he left with.

What Is The What

Chapters 19-20
Things changed in the refugee camp and many people began going to the camp in Bonga to train to become soldiers. People were dying in the camp, they were exhausted and not fed enough, yet more and more boys went there to become soldiers. All the boys at the camp were scared to go to the forest, they feared they'd be eaten, so they picked a beating instead. Every boy loved when his cooking day came, they didn't have to go to school or work, they just cooked. Everyone was being kicked out of the camp in Ethiopia, so they had to run across the river and try to escape to Pochalla. After Dut helps Valentino across the river, they find Achor Achor and Dut leaves the two of them to find their way while he goes back to help. On the way there, Valentino and Achor Achor walk with two other boys. They see an Ethiopian woman who yells for them to come to her, the two boys go, only to get shot. Achor Achor and Valentino run. They find a baby and they call it the Quiet Baby for how quiet it is. It begins to ran very heavily.

What Is The What

Chapters 15-18
Achor Achor finally comes home after the robbery and sees Valentino all tied up, so he decided to call the police. After what seemed like a very long time, the police finally come, but all they do is give them a complaint card and leave. They were no help and nothing what Valentino expected the police to be. Achor Achor decides he then has to drive Valentino to the hospital, and here Valentino feels very safe. He thinks they'll take him right away and help him figure everything out and get the robbers. He begins thinking about Tabitha and how much he was in live with her, how she came down to meet him and left the guy she was with. But, she had mood swings and one day she'd be good, only to be followed by a bad time. Valentino calls Deb for advice because the hospitla still isn't taking him in and it's been four hours, she tells him to stay there and it has nothing to do with his lack of insurance. Valentino met Achor Achor at the refugee camp and here they became best friends. Valentino has a vision of Moses only to realize it wasn't a vision, Moses was really right in front of him, and he didn't die. They tell eachother thier stories. In the refugee camp white people began coming and helping, this was the first time many of them saw a white man, they then opened schools. Here, Valentino became interested in these four sisters whom were called the Royal Nieces. He becomes a star student to attract their attention and does just so, he begins going to thier house for lunch often.

What Is The What

Chapter 10-14
Valentino went to college and meet a girl named Tabitha in his home economics class, they become boyfriend and girlfriend and he falls in love with her. When he came to America, the Newton family was the first family to take interest in him as a sponsor. The Lost Boys group grew fast, and more and more boys joined them. Mothers sent their sons to them, thinking it was the safest for their children. The longer they walked, the more the boys became crazy and the more common deaths became. In America, Mary Williams, the daughter of Jane Fonda, helped the Lost Boys. But, Mary seemed to never do anything right, they were so many people from Sudan that needed help, and only some much to give. If something was given to one, the other expected it for themselves too, jealous grew. Mary found Phil Mays and set him up as a sponsor for Valentino, he was going to help him. And every tuesday, Valentino would go to his house and tell Phil his story. The Lost Boys Foundation was disbanded in 2005 when Mary said she just couldn't take it anymore. During the walk, Valention found William K, his childhood friend. This gave him hope, he thought from now on everything is going to be okay. It made him remember he did have a good life before all of this. Dut was seen as a God to all the Lost Boys and they all listened to him. As they began walking through the desert, more and more boys died, eventually William K. joined them. This made Valentino lose hope and just want to give up. They finally reaached Ethiopia, the refugee camp they'd stay at for three years. Valentino was very disappointed, it was nothing like he had dreamed of it to be.

What Is the What

Chapters 6-9
Valentino finds out the TV Boy is named Michael, and that gives him some hope. Michael is a saint. But, Michael wants nothing to do with Valentino and is scared of him, he makes a tent out of chairs and a blanket so he doesn't have to see Valentino as he tries to sleep or watch TV. The Dinka and the Baggara live at peace with eachother, for fetile land and cattle. The Arab traders were important to the markets and Valentino's dad was good friends with them. Valentino's father told the story of how their people were asked by God if they wanted cattle of The What, but God would not say what The What was. Their people picked the cattle, which was proven to be the right choice and God gave them good land. When the war started, Valentino's village was one of the hardest hit. He left Marial Bai because his father's shop was now a target. Everyone was being suspected of being a rebel. Valentino was seperated from his mom and then reunited, where they had to run away. Valentino's mom was caught, he then ran to a church and then in the forest. There he met various people and stayed with them, only to run away a while later. He wanted to return to Marial Bai.

What Is The What

Chapters 1-5
Valentino says how he never knows the right thing to do, he was talking earlier about how he shouldn't open the door for anyone. And now, he's opening the door, only to find himself getting robbed. Valentino seems to not be scared of anything, after he's hit, he usually says it wasn't that bad or how he's never been hit with that certain object before. He seems use to the pain and almost as if he doesn't even feel it. He got his name because he was baptized to be a Christian. Many of the people that came to America call him, to talk aobut the latest rumors and figure out what is true or what isn't. He said he gets about 70 calls a day. Valentino always says how he is a fool and always does the wrong thing, only to put himself in more harm. It's unbelievable the things Valentino says he's gone through. He's feared for his life so many times, yet he is so strong about it, and accepts it.

How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Chapters 26-Acknowledgments
Irony can outsmart anything. But irony can't always be used. If one sentence can make everything you've read in that book so far go out thewindow, it's irony. I liked how he gave us a sample story. Then, he told us the questions we should be asking ourselves. Instead of just saying go analyze it, he gave us questions to think about and help us. Also, I liked how he gave us more than one aalysis giving us different points of view of how you can see the story. I learned when a younger character takes something from an older character, they also take some of their power with it. Like when Laura takes the hat from her mom, she sees herself as more powerful and also becomes closer to her mother.

How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Chapters 22-25
If a blind person pops up in a story, it has to be for an important reason since bringing in blind people to a story is hard. If the author wants you to know an important fact or quality about a character, they will introduce it early. Not in the middle of the story. Sometimes they introduce it so early in a way that they don't even need to say it. Writers use heart disease to display emotion. One author said two cheaters had heart disease, but their hearts were actually physically fine. He said it because their hearts wern't emotionally okay, these people were cruel and selfish. Also, when a character dies instantly, it's because they were shot in the heart. An author may noy use the most widespread disease at the time, but a disease that can give the best picture. But, the most effective illness is one an author can make up. This way the illness can be however the author needs it without the unwanted baggage that a disease comes with. When you're reading a story, read through the character's eyes instead of your eyes. If they are in the 1900s, put yourself in that time period and don't think of all the new technology and theories they didn't know of then. This way, you can understand the story better.

How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Chapters 18-21
I learned that if someone is immersed in water three times, it has something to do with a baptism. Also nothing is literature is ever as simple as it seems. There is always a deeper meaning to it. A fight is never just a fight. A baptism can mean deatth, rebirth, and a new identity. But, that doesn't mean it's all it can mean. Geography is like the hills, creeks, rivers. Geography can help you understand a story more, it isn't just a large mountain thrown in the story. When a character is sent south, it is probably because they are going to go crazy. Seasons, up, down, they all mean things. Winter is more sad, while spring is happy and full of life. Where something takes place, does matter, so it wouldn't be a waste to think about it. Pure originality isn't possible, there is usually something that has been said before. Every story is retelling another. A character's marks or imperfections can also tell you more about their character. Oedipus' scarred feet showed he was the infant with the curse that he would kill his father and marry his mother.

How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Interlude-Chapter 17
I learned that even though you should try to see how a character resembles other characters to get a better understanding of the story, not all authors mean for a certain character to resemble another. Also, everything is planned out, it may only take you a short time to read it, but it took much longer to write. Violence always means a lot more than just two people hitting eacother. Accidents that happen in literature are never really accidents, they were planned out. When analyzing a symbol, it usually can't be summarized into one thing. Actions can also be a symbol, and symbols can have a range of meanings. Most literature is political, even if it doesn't seem like it. People flying is always symbolic and meaning something since no human can fly, iy usually means freedom. Many people use ordinary objects to explain sexual parts or acts, because before sex was not allowed to be talked about. But if an author does write about sex, they're probably writing about something else. A novel is never as simple as it seems.

How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Chapters 4-Interlude
I this reading I learned how to understand sonnets better and that the shape of the poem, like how wide and the number of lines, can be important in the hidden message of the poem. For example, one poem was long and thin to show a falling man. Also, everything is repeated. Thinking about where you have seen a person before can give you more insight on the story you are reading. There is always only one story, the rest are, once again, repeated. Because learning where you've seen a character before can give you more insight, the more you read the better. Shakespeare is what everyone knows, whether they know it or not, and most authors use Shakespeare in their stories. Shakespeare is the one book pretty much every school teaches. If all the sudden a quote is thrown in that doesn't go with the tone on the rest of the page, it is probably from the Bible. Three types of myth are Shakespearean, biblical, and folk/fairy tale. The four great struggles are with nature, with the divine, with other humans, and with ourselves. Weather is never just weather. For example rain can mean cleansing, but it can also be dirty if you step in mud. It can bring new beginnings or it can be mysterious. Fog is usually for confusion, but rainbows are very uncommon and it's hard to see the meaning of them.

How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Chapters 1-3
So, I just started the book. It makes me think differently about the importance or every word and how one word can mean so many different things, or even alter a sentence. I never thought about how hard it really is for an author to write a dinner scene, but once I think about it, it really is hard. But, there can be much importance in a dinner scene. It can show you whether or not certain characters get along. Or, how a character can be called a vampire even if they don't necessarily fit the desription most people think of when they think about a vampire. An old man taking the innocence of young women, leaving a mark on them, and who is very mean, can be called a vampire. Right? He just doesn't have fangs. Another thing, is the quest, every little thing a character does or where they go, should be thought of as important. For everything they do, they learn something and something important can happen. So, even if their just going to the store or their friend's house doesn't mean the scene isn't important.