Unit 2: How To Read Literature Like a Professor

Chapter 21

The scar on Harry Potter's forehead represents his parent’s sacrifice in order to protect him. Due to her mother dying for her son, she gave Harry the most powerful protection she could: love. During an ancient ritual in which she stood in Voldemort’s way, Harry's mother dictated that should Voldemort ever try to attempt to curse Harry, each curse would come back at him. Specifically, Lord Voldemort's soul latches onto Harry Potter, which creates the scar. The lightning shaped scar is a significant symbol that separates Harry from all other magicians, such as a mark of destiny for a brighter future and a symbol of hope to all.

In Frankenstein, the creature's scars and stitches act as his physical imperfection. In literature terms, the scars symbolize the regrets and guilt Victor Frankenstein feels after he created the monster. Using different parts of dead people, Frankenstein realizes the horror of his experiment and emotionally, he himself becomes scarred and reflects upon his own imperfections. He learns how his scars place him as a hopeless being without a place, which in turn, leads the monster to become a hateful murderer.

Chapter 22

Not specifically in literature but in the Bible, a blind man exists to testify Jesus Christ’s power to help the man. In this case, blindness serves to be the vision for the reader. The author is trying to emphasize another definition of the word “blind”, meaning that the author wants readers to notice the ignorance or lack of morality and insight of a certain character or situation.

In addition, a literary character lacking the ability to see typically acquires the power of prophecy and reason, since he is able to “see” the world on a more profound level. Furthermore, the idea of Jesus Christ leading the blind man acts as the theme of the story in which the blind man sees the world on a more profound level and believes in Christ to guide him. As a result, the man receives the ability to see later on.

Chapter 23

...And Chapter 24

In “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, Timothy Cratchit, also known as Tiny Tim, figuratively dies due to a disease called rickets. Although we know at the end that Tim does not die, he appears dead in Scrooge's eyes, which causes this envisioned death to be powerful and symbolic. In detail, rickets is a disease caused by malnutrition and a deficiency of vitamin D, causing bones and muscles to become tender and eventually unable to support the body. This disease proves to be mysterious back during when Dickens wrote the novel as diseases are far less mysterious today then they were in 1843.

Tim’s figurative death develops the plot and Scrooge’s role. In the story, the disease causes Tim to use a crutch. Eventually as this disease gets worse into Christmas time, the crutch is not enough. Our character cannot support himself literally. When Scrooge himself witnessed the hardships Tim is facing, he realizes that if the boy doesn't get help now that he will deteriorate beyond repair and eventually die. Scrooge reflects upon his past actions by feeding and nourishing him so that Tim does not die.

Chapter 25

In the letters of “Frankenstein”, Robert Walton begins his expedition to discover the North Pole. During the time period in which the book Frankenstein takes place, this adventure serves to be a completely exotic achievement that no one dares to attempt. A reader from the twenty-first century will not understand the gravity of Walton’s journey and how important it is to the 19th century society. As a result, the reader would not feel the same elation as a reader living during Frankenstein’s time period. A reader from Mary Shelley’s time period would be extremely enthusiastic of how Mary Shelley would describe a place that had not yet been discovered, a place unknown to the real world. To that same reader, he or she would be wondering how Mary Shelley would be describing a place untouched by human hands, somewhere where no pictures or recollections existed. Moreover, Shelley describes how Walton takes longer than six months to get to the North Pole, a time span that would last much longer for a traveler to take now.

Work Cited

Untitled Slide

• "How to Read Literature Like a Professor." Hickory Grove Baptist Church. 21 Dec. 2012. Web. 8 Nov. 2015.
• Foster, Thomas C. How To Read Literature Like A Professor. New York: HarperCollins E, 2003. EPubBud. 2010. Web. 8 Nov. 2015.
• "Rickets." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Staff. Web. 8 Nov. 2015.
• "OFFICIAL BOOTLEG." : Word to the Wise (Even A Blind Man Can See). 13 Aug. 2013. Web. 8 Nov. 2015.
• "Czechs in History - Czechoslovak Pilots in World War II." Beyond Prague. 2 Nov. 2014. Web. 8 Nov. 2015.