Thomas C. Foster. How to Read Literature Like a Professor. New York: Harper, 2003. Print.

How to Read Literature Like a Professor is a challenging but lighthearted look at literature by one of its lovers. The enthusiasm for the written word comes through. It has a light enough touch to admit that some interpretations of literature seem pretty far-fetched. To carry the idea farther, Foster would say that it depends on where you fetch the interpretation from.

Short chapters build a foundation of the arts for us: Shakespeare, the Bible, Greek and Roman mythology, and folk tales. He unveils the mystery of symbols for most readers. And he kindles the desire in the reader to check out at least some of the works he mentions, or perhaps take another look.

Some themes may make some readers uncomfortable, but the book shows that if those themes are handled intelligently, the works can be worth reading. Some works about politics are hamhanded propaganda. Some works dealing with sex are pornography. But worked into a great story, such things add significance to what is going on. And some things like seasons, roads, and rivers have a universal relevance. It is good to be reminded of those things.

I have been teaching English for most of my adult life. I admit I was not unfamiliar with many of his interpretations. A week before reading How to Read Literature Like a Professor, a student asked if nationalism was an element of romanticism, how was Poe nationalistic? I explained how “The Fall of the House of Usher” illustrated the decadence of Eurasian aristocratic systems. There was my explanation almost word for word in Foster’s book. Still, reading the book made me want to read or re-read some works he mentions. I have already read The Good Soldier from Gutenberg.org after Prof. Foster’s discussion.

Without going into great detail about the book, the author is excited about reading, and that excitement is contagious. Sure, the book may help you figure out your English teacher better, but it can let you see things and make connections that will add to your knowledge and your enjoyment–not just of literature but of life itself.