How to Read Literature Like a Professor: Prompt 4

  “Originality” Is a thing that my generation strives for but in this day and age, everything has been done to one degree or another. The Idea that, “there is nothing new under the sun” is something I believe to be true.

  The idea every story is made up of a bigger story and every bigger story connects in some way making one big story is made relevant by Foster. Foster discusses three action films and their similarities saying, “Structurally, these three films are very similar: the immature young man must learn the lessons he needs to grow up. But because of the cinematic need for drama, those lessons are learned vicariously. In other words, a major motion picture isn’t much fun if the main character dies well before the end.” I find this idea that stories, books, or movies all follow a certain structure, outline, or template to be true. Occasionally, someone will try and break this mold and throw a curveball at its audience, but even that has been done so many times that it seems that there is no originality left in the world. With this in mind, I find the richness of the reading experience is enhanced when the mold is attempted to be broken. Predictable books, while enjoyable, offer no real challenge to the reader. When a book attempts to break the mold and become unique, it tends to stand out and draw attention. Many books I find attempt to break the mold have double meanings, a good example of this is “Life of Pi”. To some it’s a mediocre story about a boys misfortunes,  to others it is religious, but to me it was a book that had me question my life, morals, and views on life.