Symbolism In How To Read Literature Like A Professor

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In the book ‘How to Read Literature Like a Professor’, the author uses and

analyzes literary techniques such as symbolism. By using this technique Foster is

able to use objects, images, and short stories through symbolism to help better the

literal significance within the text to help the reader understand the real meaning

by getting them to use their imagination. Symbolism can be interpreted in different

ways depending on how the readers point of view is placed in this given society.

This technique can enhance writing and give insight to the reader. Foster uses

symbolism within the entire book.

For example, throughout chapter 2, Acts of Communion, foster uses the

story to symbolize communion. Foster states “Whenever people eat or drink

together, its …show more content…
Foster uses examples of communion through the book to get the reader to

have a better understanding. The whole main idea portrayed is that “A meal is not

always a meal and eating with others is not always just eating with others. Within

the whole listen of that the reader will have the ability to comprehend the actual

meaning of the story getting that the “meal” part in the story plays a huge role

within.

In Chapter 3, Nice to Eat You, Acts of Vampires, Foster uses symbolism to compare vampirism to human nature and the different ways that the blood sucking

demons can be used to compared to the social world. As foster says, “Ghosts and

vampires are never only about ghosts and vampires”. In a way vampires can be

used to describe greedy people who feed off of other people’s lives, government

taking away the freedom from the youth, or simply a sexual predator. Vampires are

usually symbolized as people of selfishness and negativity. By using the example

of vampirism foster is able to reach into the readers brain and help clarify that there

is a deeper meaning behind stories, usually writers will indirectly write about sex,

or anything used to symbolize
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