A thoroughly revised and up to date edition of Thomas C. Foster’s classic guide—a full of life and entertaining introduction to literature and literary basics, including symbols, themes and contexts, that shows you tips on how to make your on a regular basis reading experience more rewarding and enjoyable.

While many books can also be enjoyed for their basic stories, there are regularly deeper literary meanings interwoven in these texts. How to Read Literature Like a Professor helps us to discover those hidden truths by having a look at literature with the eyes—and the literary codes-of the ultimate professional reader, the college professor.

What does it mean when a literary hero is traveling along a dusty road? When he hands a drink to his companion? When he’s drenched in a sudden rain shower?

Ranging from major themes to literary models, narrative devices and form, Thomas C. Foster provides us with a broad overview of literature—a world where a road ends up in a quest, a shared meal may signify a communion, and rain, whether cleansing or destructive, is never just a shower-and shows us tips on how to make our reading experience more enriching, satisfying, and fun.

This revised edition includes new chapters, a new preface and epilogue, and comprises up to date teaching points that Foster has developed over the last decade.