The World's Best Book Summaries
What does it mean when authors reference the Bible in literature? What biblical symbols should you be on the lookout for? Authors commonly reference the Bible to deepen the meaning of their work. Many authors also use the Bible to highlight the differences between religious tradition and modern life. Keep reading to learn why the Bible is so commonly referenced in literature and what those references may mean.
What are the most common quest archetypes? What should you look out for to know if a character is on a quest? Anytime a character begins a trip, you should be on the lookout for a quest narrative. Literary quests typically consist of five elements: a quester, a place to go, a reason, challenges along the way, and the character learning about themselves. Keep reading to learn why every trip is a quest in literature.
Why should you familiarize yourself with an author’s background before reading their literature? Why are politics so common in writing? If you don’t familiarize yourself with the world as it was when an author wrote a book, you risk missing important political commentary. Especially in American literature, the role of an individual character is almost always politically charged. Keep reading to learn more about political writing in classic literature.
What do fairy tales and myths signify in literature? Why would an author choose to borrow an element of an already well-known story? It’s common practice for authors to reference fairy tales and classical mythology in their literature because they are an assumed body of knowledge. Referencing well-known material allows an author to get a point across without much effort. Keep reading for more information about literary fairy tales and myths.
What does it mean to read and analyze literature like a professor? What are the differences between how a student and teacher reads literature? When a student reads literature, she tends to focus on the characters, plot, and emotions. When a professor reads literature, she focuses on memory, symbols, and patterns in the story and looks for the deeper truths. Keep reading to learn how professors go about reading literature.
What did Michelle Obama’s timeline of higher education look like? What major events happened while Michelle was at Princeton? What led Michelle to apply to Harvard Law School? During her time at Princeton, Michelle met her first mentor, got her first job working with children, she experienced the decline of her father’s health, and she made the decision to go to law school. All of these events would affect her later in life. Continue on to learn more about Michelle Obama’s college years.
How are memory and reading related? Is there really no such thing as a new book? It is true, there is no such thing as a new story. All literary works are connected and reference past works. That’s why it’s important to call on your memory of previous works of literature while you read. Continue on to learn more about the importance of calling on your memory while reading literature.
What does How to Read Literature Like a Professor say about baptism? What is a symbolic baptism? A baptism in literature doesn’t always have to be religious. A literary baptism is when a character escapes a watery death and reforms their life as a result. How they escaped drowning is an important part of the character development. Keep reading to learn what How to Read Literature Like a Professor has to say about baptism.
What kind of discrimination did Michelle Obama face at Princeton University? How did her brother play a part in her college experience? When Michelle Obama entered Princeton, less than 9% of students in her class were Black and most were male. She even had an experience where her roommate moved out because her mother didn’t want her rooming with a Black girl. Despite all of that, Michelle thrived. Keep reading to learn more about Michelle Obama’s Princeton years.
What are the two secondary character archetypes in literature? Why can’t every character be rounded out? There are two main secondary character archetypes in literature: the round character and the flat character. Round characters have backstories, emotions, and growth while flat characters are just there to aid the protagonist. Keep reading to learn more about secondary characters in literature.