How To Read Literature Like a Professor: Unit 2

Chapter 21: Marked for Greatness

How an imperfection implicates a character:

• An imperfection doesn't mean "impairment"
• They've overcome an obstacle
• Have to deal with imperfection by bettering their character

Harry Potter's scar

What Harry's scar means:

• Symbol of ambition
• Harry is the "boy who lived", so he deals with a permanent marking
• He does everything in his might to overcome obstacles
• He stands out with his ability to think throughrougly 

Spider Scene

• Spider goes bezerk and tries to eat Ron and Harry
• Harry keeps calm and brings himself out of situation
• Harry portrayed his bravery and sense of intelligence

Chapter 22: He's Blind for a Reason, You Know

What is a character's blindness?

• Blindness can allow a character to notice beyond what others can see
• Foster states that blind characters are vital as difficulties arise
• A blind character can often underline the essence of literary work
• “figurative seeing and blindness are at work” (Foster 247)
• These characters can figuratively notice things others cannot

Blindness in The Kite Runner

• Assef is blinded in one eye by Sohrab 
• This scene symbolizes how Assef is incognizant to misery he creates 
• He's incognizant to how life is essentially made for less fortunate
• Assef begins to act racist towards people
• In another scene, Hazara is ridiculed by Assef & neighborhood

Assef's blindness

• Assef is blind to see people's self worth
• Assef portrays racism; “How can you play with him? How can you touch him?” (Hoesseini 41)
• Assef judges people strictly by their race
• Assef isn't physically blind,  by blind to see other's self worth

Chapter 23: It’s Never Just Heart Disease… Chapter 24: ...And Rarely Just Illness

The four principles of disease:

• Not all diseases are created equal
• It should be picturesque
• It should be mysterious in origin
• It should have strong symbolic or metaphorical possibilities

Disease in Marley and Me

• Marley is lovable, but causes great mischief in family
• Marley chewed up everything and caused fights amongst family
• Marley's spirited nature caused family and readers to get attached to him

Marley's death significance

• Marley taught everyone that life is short
• He taught people to act joyful, loving, and loyal to others
• Although Marley caused angst, the family wouldn't have had that strong bond
• Marley was a convienant element to keep the family together

Death in PS. I Love You

Gerry's death significance

• Story begins with his death; his death explains the whole plot
• Gerry organizes trips and writes letters to Holly before he passes
• Not everyone can control their disease; often unpreventable
• Gerry shows that life should be lived to the fullest, even after hardships
• Without Gerry knowing he would pass, he wouldn't have written letters

Chapter 25: Don’t Read With Your Eyes

Pride and Prejudice

• Evident theme throughout: women's independence 
• At the time, a woman denying marriage would be unimaginable
• "...I am thus rejected." (Austen 115)
• This type of rejection would be looked down upon 
• Women were expected to marry a rich man in order to survive

Women in 1800's expectations vs now

• Our society is much more flexible in where everyone stands vs 1800's
• Women who married in their teens were more sociably accepted
• Today, relationships are more enclosed in love & less about class rank
• People are less uptight today & more welcoming of other relationshps
• Also, women are more financially independent & don't need to depend on men