Literacy has two meanings: the state/quality of being able
to read and write, and to have knowledge of a particular field. So literally, a literate person is one who
can read and write. However, there is
always more than the dictionary, dry-cut meaning; In How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Foster states there is a “language
of reading”, meaning there is more to literacy than just understanding words
put together. There are certain
patterns, underlying meanings, symbols, and knowledge of history a literate
person knows that enables them to see more than the words on the page. From what I’ve picked up from my own personal
experience and reading How to Read
Literature Like a Professor, I figure the best way to become a literate
person, other than being fluent in at least one language and being able to read
and write, is to have a vast knowledge of history and of events going on in
present day. Many symbols come from historic
events or beliefs, such as the Cross from Christianity. Most writers write about what is going on
around them, meaning the reader must know what was going on around the author
during his/her time to understand their work.
These authors, who are literate people, understand the importance of
keeping up with current events and being able to form opinions about them. Their work is usually their opinions on what
is going on around them. So, in a
nutshell, literate people understand the importance of history, have their own
educated opinions on current events, and are not afraid to speak their opinion
through writing.
Hi Maggie,
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing that all is well with your blog access since here you are! I think one thing you are specifically talking about here in this post is ALLUSION and INTERTEXTUALITY which Foster does discuss. And I think you're right--being "literate" means being in on the references; knowing the depth of things. I love it when I get an allusion to something. It makes us feel smart and part of the whole!
Mac
Maggie, I absolutely love how you've described literacy. It seems that you have so many different ideas about how a person could be literate and it's not just some textbook definition. If I understand it right, you think that an emphasis on history is a big way to literacy as well as an education. I, however, think current events, more than history, could help a person be literate. While both are important, current events, to me, would help more because they involve a person knowing what's going on today and will affect their lives more directly. I still think it's interesting that you brought that up.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Mac, could you explain the Intertextuality part a little more in depth for me? I understand what Foster is saying, but it's not engrained in my mind like it probably should be for class.
Maggie, I completely agree with your views on literacy. I love how you explained literacy. History is a big part of being literate and so is knowing the world around you. I have to agree with Vivian, current events (to me) seem like they might help more with a person being literate. That is just my opinion. Foster does talk about allusion and intertextuality in the book, which you are talking about. I think you are right to be literate you have to know your references. For example, like you said a cross may mean something or a star might symbolize something. I believe, as I think you do too, to be literate you have to know what you're talking about.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Mrs. Mac, could you explain Intertextuality a bit more in depth? Like Vivian, I understand what Foster is saying but it is not etched in my brain and I think it probably should be for class.
I had never thought to consider the importance of current and historical events when examining literacy, but since you did it’s very clear to see that full use and understanding of such events are literary accomplishments. When I responded to the intertextuality I wrote about literacy concerning our own existence and when Abby responded to my post she changed the term intertextuality to interhumanality. Which I think can also apply to your response for you also discuss human ability, in that we are able to discern information from the world around us. I am glad you said that “literate people understand the importance of …” because simply appreciating the world’s events and what other people are doing is truly an intelligent thing and a great attribute. Not everyone has to love learning about their world but a literate person should, right?
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Emily, to some extent. Being literate does mean that you do have to know about the world around you and it does help if you like doing it too. Like all things if you do not like to do it you probably will not do it to the best of your ability. An example is John Steinbeck who knew a great deal about the world around him, which made his book not only a classic but fun to read. I think that to become truly literate, like Maggie said, one must be at least willing to learn about the world they live in. I will go even a step more; one must be willing to over look prejudice and see the truth about what is going on in the world whether one would like to admit it or not.
ReplyDeleteMaggie,
ReplyDeleteI particularly like your concept of the two sides of literacy. It is much more than the ability to read and write. Literacy is also the ability to see beyond the words to realize and sometimes interpret meaning. The old saying "beauty is only skin deep" can be true about text. There are certainly inner and outer beauties and multi-layered beauty involved. Frost is such a good example of what appears on the outside (first reading) and what really lies within. Rarely, if ever, are his poems about the bucolic New England countryside or lifestyle only.
SBL