Answer: Certainly! "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald and "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" by Thomas C. Foster are both widely studied works that offer valuable insights into the world of literature. Here are two quotes from each book, along with an explanation of how "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" helps us understand what is happening in "The Great Gatsby":
1. Quote from "The Great Gatsby": "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." (Chapter 9)
Explanation: This quote represents the recurring theme of the impossibility of recapturing the past. In "How to Read Literature Like a Professor," Foster explains that literature often uses water as a symbol for time and change. The image of boats struggling against the current suggests that no matter how hard we try, we cannot escape the influence of our past.
2. Quote from "The Great Gatsby": "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made." (Chapter 9)
Explanation: This quote highlights the moral corruption and irresponsibility of the wealthy characters in the novel. In "How to Read Literature Like a Professor," Foster discusses the concept of symbolism, explaining that characters can represent larger ideas or themes. Tom and Daisy Buchanan symbolize the privileged class who exploit others without facing consequences, reflecting a broader critique of American society during the Jazz Age.
3. Quote from "How to Read Literature Like a Professor": "Whenever people eat or drink together, it's communion." (Chapter 4)
Explanation: This quote emphasizes the symbolic significance of communal meals in literature. In "The Great Gatsby," many important events take place during parties and gatherings where food and drink are shared. Foster suggests that these moments of communion often represent a deeper connection or shared experience among the characters.
4. Quote from "How to Read Literature Like a Professor": "Weather is never just weather. It's never just rain." (Chapter 10)
Explanation: This quote highlights the idea that weather in literature often carries symbolic meaning beyond its literal representation. In "The Great Gatsby," the changing weather patterns, particularly the frequent rainstorms, mirror the emotional turbulence and instability of the characters' lives. The rain symbolizes the conflicts and tensions that arise throughout the story.
5. Quote from "The Great Gatsby": "I hope she'll be a fool—that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool." (Chapter 1)
Explanation: This quote reflects the limited options available to women in the 1920s and their societal expectations. In "How to Read Literature Like a Professor," Foster discusses the concept of archetypes, explaining that characters often embody certain stereotypes or roles. Daisy's statement reveals her resignation to conforming to societal norms and accepting her role as an object of beauty rather than pursuing intellectual or personal growth.
Explanation: this helps