how can i become a good literature student?

Answer 1

Keep an open mind about the beliefs and customs of other cultures. This will enable you to understand the actions that characters take and what they may symbolize. Also, NEVER assume that anything written in any literary work is a reflection of the writer, for example, "Poe writes about incest because he married his cousin" this is a weak perspective with no substance.

Answer 2

Read the works, read Cliff or Spark Notes if you find a work puzzling (read the notes in addition to, not instead of, the original works), and discuss the works with your classmates.

Try to glean from the works some information about the culture in which they were written. (Ex.: In Jane Austen's Emma (1816), a family Christmas is described, but it seems to consist of having the family home for the occasion, going to a neighbor's for a social evening, and going to church--no mention of presents, even though there are four children in the extended family. In Dickens' A Christmas Carol (1843), Scrooge grudgingly gives Bob Cratchitt the day off with pay and, once he's had his life-changing experience, goes to church and then goes to his nephew's for dinner; meanwhile Bob takes Tiny Tim to church and returns home for a special dinner with his family, some of whom have also been given the day off work. Again, there is no mention of presents, nor is there any mention of a Christmas tree, although carolers and collections for the poor do appear. From these accounts we can infer that Christmas in England in the first half of the 19th century had not yet become the holiday we know but wes observed more like Thanksgiving. Try drawing comparable conclusions from the literary works you read.)

Some students find that it helps to keep a journal in which they write their reactions to the literature they read. Since this journal is for your personal use, you don't have to worry about making the writing perfect.

Finally, get into the habit of reading for fun and relaxation. Even if what you read then is garbage, it will still help.

Answer 3

The best way to do this is to first read all of your assigned text. You will be taught to analyze minute details, so skimming chapters won't work as well as it would have in high school.

Also, when you read, don't just absorb details on a surface level. Write down questions you might have from each chapter. Think about why a character might be performing a specific action. Don't just accept what your professor tells you, but form your opinion. Remember that you'll need to substantiate your point of view with quotes from the text. To summarize, you will have to be good at listening and note-taking.

In addition to the work you do for class, make sure you read independently, as well. Read other classics that are not assigned to you; this will help broaden your worldview and help you to discover interesting connections between individual novels, time periods, and cultures. It wouldn't hurt to pick a pleasure book to read before bed so you will retain some agency in your reading activities.

Answer 4

Read until you pass out?

Answer 5

Study hard, and work/Listen well.