How to Read Poetry Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster receives mixed reviews. Readers appreciate Foster's accessible and engaging style, which demystifies poetry for beginners. However, some critics find the analysis overly simplistic for more advanced readers. The book is praised for its insightful guidance but may not offer the depth sought by poetry experts.

A reader who enjoys How to Read Poetry Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster is likely an avid literature enthusiast or student seeking to deepen their understanding of poetry. Comparable to those who appreciate How to Read Literature Like a Professor or The Poetry Home Repair Manual, this reader values insightful analysis and appreciates accessible yet academic discussions.

In How to Read Poetry Like a Professor, Thomas C. Foster aims to dismantle the notion that poetry is deliberately obscure by providing readers with strategies for understanding its form, imagery, and hidden meanings. He emphasizes reading all words, considering sentences over line breaks, and appreciating sound and rhythm. Foster discusses meter, poetic forms, and the influence of language history, stressing the importance of both creativity in writing and active reader participation in interpreting poetry.

Informative / Contemplative / Inspirational

**Thomas C. Foster**  
A retired professor of English whose guides, beginning with his 2003 work, offer methods of understanding and appreciating complex texts, emphasizing the biases in text selection and analysis.

**Robert Frost**  
A Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet known for his precise observations of nature and mastery of metrical form, frequently appearing in Foster’s guide due to the multiple interpretations his work offers.

**Langston Hughes**  
An African American poet and key figure in the Harlem Renaissance, known for incorporating blues music and African American dialect into his poetry to establish an authentic voice.

**Marianne Moore**  
A free verse poet and Pulitzer Prize winner, renowned for her experimental stanza structures and imaginative approach, which invites readers to engage creatively with her work.

**Geoffrey Chaucer**  
Author of The Canterbury Tales and a pivotal figure in English poetry, representing the transition to written works and influencing future poetic forms, noted by Foster for his iambic contributions.

**E. E. Cummings**  
An American poet recognized for his experimental language and structure, encouraging readers to explore multiple meanings in his work through innovative use of form and wordplay.

Thomas C. Foster

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How to Read Poetry Like a Professor Summary and Study Guide

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “What Is Poetry”

Part 1 How to Read Poetry Like a Professor Part 1 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “How Is Poetry?”

Part 2, Chapters 3-8

How to Read Poetry Like a Professor Part 2, Chapters 3-8 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 9-14

How to Read Poetry Like a Professor Part 2, Chapters 9-14 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “Why Is Poetry”

Part 3 How to Read Poetry Like a Professor Part 3 Summary & Analysis

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Key Figures

How to Read Poetry Like a Professor Key Figures

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Themes

How to Read Poetry Like a Professor Themes

Index of Terms

How to Read Poetry Like a Professor Index of Terms

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Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

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How to Read Poetry Like a Professor Further Reading & Resources

Introduction

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Before Reading

How to Read Poetry Like a Professor Before Reading

During Reading

How to Read Poetry Like a Professor During Reading

After Reading

How to Read Poetry Like a Professor After Reading

How to Read Poetry Like a Professor: A Quippy and Sonorous Guide to Verse

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