I usually tend to be a rereader of pages while I am reading the book. I
do not know why, but I always seem to have to reread things to fully understand
what is happening in the text. This does slow me down but I feel like I
comprehend more of the story and the devices used by the author. I do, however,
have a bad habit of skimming texts the first time through so whenever I catch
myself in the act I make myself go back and reread the page. Though I
have discovered when I reread (even when I have not been skimming), it helps me
catch plot points and symbolism (my favorite literary device, along with irony)
I missed the first time through. Foster
talks a lot about reading between the lines, which I find I do more effectively
if I reread. Especially in more elevated
texts, such as Hamlet, I find it
especially important to go back and read over again because there are so many
things you can get caught up in while reading them that you can get distracted
and miss the real meaning of what is on the page.
However, I can never reread a book. I am not sure why, but I cannot make myself reread because I already know what is going to happen. I have a habit of reading the end of books first anyway, so I can pick up on important things as I reread such as foreshadowing. I even have trouble watching the same movie twice. I want to read and watch new things so I do not want to relive something I have already experienced.
I understand your problem when it comes to skimming! I find myself only glancing at the words on a page, because I am easily distracted. This happened multiple times while I was reading The Stranger by Albert Camus, I would just look over the words and then have to return to the point where I stopped paying attention, and begin to annotate which took up more time than necessary. I also reread passages that I did not fully understand or was confused about. Although, I do reread books (the ones that I like) for the new perspective you obtain after finishing them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and Adriane on your skimming habit! I, as well, sometimes find myself just glancing at words and daydreaming of something else. However, I do think that one develops a closer read when the do go back to reread. I also agree with Adriane that I only reread books I truly find moving (otherwise I refuse). Hamlet, so far has been the best example for rereading considering the elevated text; which, I agree with your point on that matter. Yet, I thoroughly love to go back and re-watch a movie. I enjoy really connecting to the film, however, I only truly have time for this on my "lazy" days.
ReplyDeleteYour point of catching plot points along with symbolism is a huge point that I made when I too responded to this prompt. I agree; you miss a lot of details when you skim or just read a work once, rather than allowing yourself to reread it. Foster does indeed make a great point when discussing the necessity of reading between the lines, that area stuck out to me as well. Making a point of getting distracted is not something that I included in my response but, it is a huge aspect to take into consideration. Lastly, I completely agree with your response to rereading a full book; I too feel that once you already know the full layout, and what the result is, then the experience is not even close to being equivalent to your experience during your prior time reading it.
ReplyDeleteI am also a rereader of pages when reading through a book the first time. I tend to lose my place if I focus on something else for more than a second. However, I agree that rereading pages can help the reader understand the text better. Based on my own experience, I have reread things I’ve missed only because I have lost my place on the page. Symbolism is one of my favorite literary devices as well and I greatly enjoy missing it and then rediscovering it because it makes something take on a whole new meaning. I love to reread books even thought I already know what’s going to happen just because the stories are so amazing.
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