Active Reading

I think our Introduction to Literature book is going to be really helpful as I learn to become a better reader.  This one section has already proved informative.  Active reading easily overwhelms me, honestly.  I am not an incredibly fast reader, but I don't like spending a lot of time on one book--maybe that's my first problem! Haha.  I've never been the student who finds the crazy symbolism or draws deep meaning out of a seemingly basic passage.  I sometimes second-guess the insights I do pull out of books or essays or articles or wonder if I am getting the meaning the author intended to convey.  Now that I am thinking about these things, I am realizing it's more important to just go for it rather than worry about how good or bad of a reader I am.  So I guess the good news is that this all means I can only get better at "active reading." =)

Most of this chapter outlined ways to actively read, so now I have clear "directions" on how I can better take in what I read and on what elements to look for to take note of and comment on.  These elements include language usage such as in imagery, descriptions, repetition, and similes and metaphors; cross-references and references to myths, religion, or historical figures; and characterization and dialogue.  The sample annotations at the end of the reading for the bio of Kate Chopin as well as "The Story of an Hour" were helpful too.

"What you get out of what you read is determined by how you read." 

I have to agree with this statement.  I probably have a hard time getting many things out of a text because I have not been willing to put enough time into it.  I've also never before been given such clear guidance on how to do something [active reading] that does not come naturally to me.  After reading this chapter on how to read, though, I can't imagine my insights not improving the next time I read something.  I'm actually looking forward to it...I don't need another somewhat embarrassing post with a theme (ha!) that keeps going back to how badly I've read in the past. ;)  I agree with this quote because it just makes sense.  When I become better at how I read, I have no doubt that I will gain more insights from, thoughts about, and interactions with what I read.

"One of the reasons why literature provides pleasure for so many readers is the sense of familiarity it offers." (p. 15)

This sentence stood out to me.  In context it was talking about becoming familiar with the story you are reading in regards to characters, language, setting, or action.  In a different light, I think this also relates to what texts we choose to read.  I like topics that relate to where I am in life or where I want to be heading; that's a sense of familiarity to me, an area I can relate with, and so it sparks my interest in hearing what the author has to say. There's familiarity both within a piece of literature as well as outside of it in relation to our own life experiences.