Brett Bordonaro
3rd
9-28-2011
In the beginning of the chapter, the author talks aboutactually comprehending what you are reading. Hestates that when you read you need to not read thewords with your own eyes, you need to actually readthrough the eyes of the character in the book you arereading. “So if your going to understand the ladies, andthe meal, and the story, you have to read through eyesthat are not your own, eyes that, while not those ofAunts Kate and Julia, can take in the meaning of themeal provided” (Thomas C. Foster 25).
The author states in the chapter a story about thesewomen who prepare a meal and he talks about what thewomen had to do to prepare the meal. They had toprovide a meal that was way beyond their means. Themeal consisted of exotic and expensive produce thatthey had to feed to a large number of guests. “Theyhave gone to considerable epiphany, the second mostimportant day of the Christmas season, the day theChrist child was revealed to the wise men” (Thomas C.Foster 25).
It was not only a religious significance but an eveningthat the old ladies looked forward to all year long. “Wecannot understand their anxiety over the success of thisgathering unless we see how important it was in theirlives” (Thomas C. Foster25 ).
The author also talks about another short story writtenby James Baldwin named “Sunny Blues” . The storydeals with an uptight math teacher in Harlem duringthe 1950’s, who’s brother served time in prison for drugpossession. There was extreme conflict between thebrothers throughout the story. “It’s about redemptionnot recovery” (Thomas C. Foster 25).
Throughout the chapter the author wants us to look atthe whole picture, not just the words you read. Forexample in the story of “Sonny Blues” , the authorBaldwin suggests that the narrator of “Sonny Blues”has a chance to get to know his younger, troubledbrother as he never has before. “The real issues of thestory raises all concern the narrator/brother”(ThomasC. Foster 25). Sonny’s trouble is, interesting; but it ismerely the hook that draws us in.
The rest of the chapter deals with stories such as MobyDick, The Last of the Mohicans, and The Iliad, whosecentral theme deals with violence, blood sacrifices,looting, and multiple Gods, etc. “There are lots ofuseful lessons in The Iliad, but while it may at timesread like an episode of The Jerry Springer Show, we’llmiss most of them if we read it through the lens of ourown popular culture” (Thomas C. Foster)
Like in the novel Great Expectations instead ofreading with your eyes you need to actually readthrough the eyes of the young character named Pip. Ifyou don’t actually read and comprehend what you arereading in the novel Great Expectations you will notget the true meaning of what the author is trying toconvey.
“My sister’s bringing up had made me sensitive, in thelittle world in which children have their existencewhosoever brings them up, there is nothing so finelyperceived and so finely felt as injustice” (Dickens 8).
The chapter relates to everyday life by if youdon’t actually sit back and look at things inyour life then you will not really grasp thewhole picture.
Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. New Your:Bantam Dell, 1986. Print
Foster, Thomas C. How to Read Literature Like aProfessor. New York: Harper-Collins Publishers, Inc.,2003. Print.
