How to Read Literature Like Thomas C. Foster (and Laugh a Little Along the Way)

“‘In order to remain undead, I must steal the life force of someone whose fate matters less to me than my own.’ I’ve always supposed that Wall Street traders utter essentially the same sentence.” (22, Foster)

Thomas C. Foster’s How to Read Literature Like a Professor was a comical read, even if that was not the intention. I was prepared to have his book read similar to a stereotypical college lecture: dry, detached, and (somewhat) derogatory. Instead, I found quite the opposite.

Foster genuinely wants his students, and the public, to enjoy reading. He believes that by analyzing the works more, reading pleasure and understanding will increase, but he doesn’t want this process to be arduous. Rather, he tries to teach his readers through an amusing method. This strategy is twofold. Firstly, he employs witty language throughout his prose. Secondly, Foster uses references from varying media types to appeal to individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Throughout reading this book, I would laugh out loud at how Foster worded his insights. As he discusses, readers usually have preconceived notions as to what will happen due to symbols and context clues. When this expected outcome doesn’t occur, irony is employed (and is sometimes accompanied by surprise). While there is no plot irony, Foster surprises his readers by appearing casual, instead of serious. On page 183, he says, “As you know, that’s Shakespeare’s sonnet 73, your constant bedside reading.” Foster sounds like he is in a direct conversation with the reader, ultimately attaining the desired effect.

This is not the only instance that Foster seems to have a private joke with the reader. He jests with the reader when discussing the movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark. Foster says, “. . . and suddenly Indy, who has heretofore been afraid of absolutely nothing, is terrified of snakes. Do we buy that? Of course not” (213). This joking tone allows the reader to understand in a simpler manner than the traditional lecture style.

Foster impressed me with his wide range of cultural references. Most non-fiction authors, when analyzing literature, stick to a certain time period or style of writing to use as examples. However, Foster employs the use of different types of literature and media (novels, poems, movies, songs, etc.) to achieve his analysis. Early in his work, he discusses how a specific story “follows the conventions of a quest tale. So does Huck Finn. The Lord of the Rings. North by Northwest. Star Wars” (6). Out of this list, North by Northwest, particularly struck me. The others are relatively well known in modern media. Even if one has not seen the movie or read the book, he or she usually knows the basic plot line – maybe even a quote (“Luke, I am your father”). Yet, when listing stories well known within current media, North by Northwest isn’t what comes to mind. I was lucky enough to have seen this movie prior to reading Foster’s work, which helped me to understand how the movie was a ‘quest’ plotline. Cary Grant’s character does go on a quest (with some incredible cinematic shots involving an airplane trying to kill him) and having that background was an ideal reference for many who are more familiar with Grant than Harrison Ford, an observation that Foster considers.

I, unlike most my age, understand references to older works, instead of modern works. This background made me enjoy Foster’s examples even more. My personal favorite occurred on page 198:

“Every western has a little bit of other westerns in it, whether it knows it or not. Let’s take the most basic element, the hero. Will your hero talk a lot or not? If not, then he’s in the tradition of Gary Cooper and John Wayne and (later) Clint Eastwood. If he does speak, just talks his fool head right off, then he’s like James Garner and those revisionist films of the sixties and seventies.”

This quote mentioned James Garner, my favorite actor of all time, who was famous for his comic westerns, such as Support Your Local Sheriff!, and his two hugely popular television shows, Maverick (in which Clint Eastwood guest starred in before he starred in Rawhide) and The Rockford Files. Having seen a variety of westerns, including ones starring Wayne, Eastwood, or Garner, helped me to comprehend the exact point that Foster was trying to convey. However, even if one has not seen movies with these actors, most know of John Wayne or Clint Eastwood and can identify their style character within a text. Foster’s use of these examples further the reader’s understanding of his message.

Other references that I enjoyed: Damn Yankees (opening), Wile E. Coyote’s “Yikes” sign (96), and Indiana Jones.

“That’s what literature is. It’s the people who went before us, tapping out messages from the past, from beyond the grave, trying to tell us about life and death! Listen to them!”

-          Connie Willis