Summary of Thomas C. Foster's How to Read Literature Like a Professor (Unabridged‪)‬

No time to read? Get the main key ideas from this summary of Thomas C. Foster's How to Read Literature Like a Professor in 23 minutes or less.

What does it mean for a fictional hero to set off down a road? Share a meal? Get soaked in a sudden rain shower?

In How to Read Literature Like a Professor (2003), Thomas C. Foster demonstrates how simple and satisfying it is to uncover the meanings and symbols in literature, and to discover a world where a road leads to a quest, a shared meal may signify a communion, and rain, whether cleansing or destructive, is never just rain in this practical and amusing guide.

For everyday readers, there's always a sneaking suspicion that there's much more going on in a novel or poem than is readily visible on the surface - perhaps a symbol that remains elusive, or an unexpected twist on a character. Foster covers key themes, literary models, narrative techniques, and structure, with the goal of making your reading experience more engaging, rewarding, and entertaining.