(previously posted in r/literature, but I was banned)
I love reading and have started studying literature at university, but when I read what the other students post to forums I just feel so dumb. Like I’m not getting enough out of the texts beyond enjoyment.
How does everyone here increase their confidence that they do know what they are on about when it comes to literature?
Read Terry Eagleton’s recent book, How to read literature (PDF online), in which he explains that a scholarly approach to literature involves paying attention to how meaning is produced rather than what the story is about; after all, that is generally obvious).
You should try to distinguish between content and form. Although these aspects of a text are inseparable (two sides of the same coin) you can, by separating them, say for example something like: “The meaning of this passage is reinforced by the use of symbols, elliptical dialogue, short sentences [whatever…insert any relevant literary device]. A handbook of literary terms is important, in this regard.
Anyway, a lot of students, as Eagleton points out, read stories as though they were about real life people, whereas the study of literature is about analyzing the writing techniques more than retelling the subject matter. Anyway, instead of seeing characters as like “real life” people, you have to see them as constructs (made of words). Instead of seeing the action as a neutral or natural reflection of reality you must try to see the events as relatively conventional plot structures and devices associated with styles like romanticism, realism or modernism, metafiction, etc. All these concepts and distinctions have ideological and political implications, and ideally you should try to develop an argument that that links the micro features of the story (the formal aspects of writing) to macro social contemporary/historical) contexts. Discuss its themes and issues. This is one way in which old literature stay relevant, even though it may be valuable in its own right.
There are many other things to say. Read some intro to lit books. Eagleton is funny. Bennet & Royle are good too.
Have you read any criticism yet? We never did in high school so I remember at university when I first started reading journal articles about the texts we were studying it was like unlocking the key to a puzzle. (Of course then I went too far and spent ages writing essays that were basically literature reviews,)
And remember, there are many schools of criticism, it doesn’t have to be super obscure Theory. I was naturally drawn to feminist and new historicist criticism without necessarily setting out to apply a particular critical lens.
Likewise, you don’t have to be drawn to all forms of literature equally. As you progress, you might find you get on better with Restoration Drama or medieval literature rather than Shakespeare or post-modern works. You don’t necessarily have to study the stuff you’d like to sit down and read for fun (cough, Piers Plowman, cough) but try to find something that inspires you beyond the level of I like it/I hate it or this is a good writer/a bad writer.
The other tip I would have is read and re-read. Suddenly you find that references to, say, ghosts keep popping up in different parts of the text. Why? What do they mean? Is there something that links these occurrences? Or you can pick up on dramatic irony or foreshadowing more easily upon re-reading.
Good luck!
I studied Classics at university first but dropped out. I later studied Film and Literature at Warwick and I sucked at it. I wish I’d been as honest with myself as you are being now because there were simple, practical steps and approaches I could have taken then to become the average reader I am today.
Read read read read watch films see visual art listen to podcasts read read read.
Talk to your seminar tutors/class conveners. They’re usually the coolest people who are more than willing to help if you show you’re trying and engaging with their texts.
Specialise. Learn the key themes/notable quotes from key disciplines in lit studies. Psychoanalysis, Marxism, gender politics. Choose just one for first year and try to read these into the texts you’re dealing with.
Be happy. This should be a fun time in your life that education complements.
Keep in touch. I still don’t read so well but I enjoy doing it and I’m happy talking about uni level stuff. Lots of love be happy x
I can relate to what you’re feeling so much. I got my degree in literature and there were many times where I felt dumb for not seeing what my classmates saw in some readings. But an important thing to remember is that literature is pretty subjective. Everyone reads a story a different way and forms their own opinions about stories. Just because you didn’t interpret a reading in the same way as someone else does not mean that you’re dumb.
It’s also easy to get caught up in the enjoyment of a novel. Just remind yourself to occasionally think deeper. Like take a break from reading a passage and analyze a bit of it or something.
- anonymous
There’s nothing inheretly wrong with getting enjoyment out of the reading. In my experience, some literary professors take their subject way too seriously. And, I wonder, by not focusing on the emotional aspect of fiction if we are training students to ignore/downplay their emotional responses?
- anonymous
Tyson’s Critical Theory Today would be a phenomenal resource for you. Critical theory tends to sound scary, but really it’s just a bunch of different perspectives, informed by other fields/disciplines/social groups. Tyson also does a phenomenal job showing you how to apply these theories to your tinking about literature, with each theory chapter ending in an example “application” essay where Tyson takes many of the concepts she shows you and puts them into practice.
Reading literature is a life-long study! When you study martial arts and earn ( from a legitimate school) a black belt it means that now you are ready to be a serious student. When you earn a liberal arts degree in college it means that now you are ready to be a student.
During World War Two, Germany formed twenty-five groups of soldiers, each commanded by a colonel. They were called Einsatzgruppen. They were primarily responsible for arresting and often murdering jews, union leaders, communists, or, generally, anyone who was ideologically suspect. Of the twenty-five colonels fifteen of them had earned Ph.Ds. I’m sure they sounded learned, but did they actually learn anything?
Know a lot about a little 2)Stick to what you know
Maybe for a PhD. For generally getting into reading literature, I would recommend the opposite: know a little about a lot so you can have a wide knowledge base to bring to your interpretation. Eventually of course you’d start to know a lot, but it takes time.
I do agree with you, but I think for forums/seminar discussions, the most confident students seem to hone in on one particular area and use that as a basis for points to be made.
Just an observation although ofc I may be wrong
Hang in there! I was a English major who really struggled to closely read texts for a really long time. I really loved the texts I read, thoroughly enjoyed them, and still didn’t really understand how to read like a literary scholar. It took quite a bit of time, but I started to get the hang of it. For quite a while though, I thought about switching back to STEM.
I stuck with it, got my BA, then my MA, and I’m now in a PhD program. It’s worth it.
- How to Read Literature by Terry Eagleton
- how meaning is produced
- analyzing writing techniques
- content vs form
- meaning is X evidenced by <literary device(s)>
- events = plot structures
- devices associated with styles
- romanticism
- realism
- modernism
- metafiction
- etc
- ideological implications
- political implications
- micro features → formal aspects
- macro contexts
- social
- historical
- contemporary
- themes
- issues
- read and re-read
- Specialise. Learn the key themes/notable quotes from key disciplines in lit studies
- Choose just one for first year and try to read these into the texts you’re dealing with