I can't recall a time in my life that I have ever reread any book. Books, like movies or TV shows, tell a story intending to entice and engross the reader/viewer into the universe that's created, and keep their attention to the very end. Often times the story you are being told is most enjoyable the first time you experience it. That's not to say stories cannot be enjoyed subsequently after the first time, but they do lose a bit of their luster when the surprises and mysteries of the story are gone.
I can recall few instances in my life where I have ever read a book out of pleasure rather than requirement, so that has always turned me away from rereading. But that's not to say it doesn't have its place. Many texts from centuries ago have archaic language and often require rereading to comprehend what has been written. As alluded to by Foster in How to Read Literature Like a Professor rereading is a key element to understanding and analyzing literature. When you revisit a past experience, you are more often than not to notice something you didn't before, it's like it becomes clearer, but the problem is that many people would rather take a book at face value and not delve deeper into its inner workings and hidden meanings. Many are often satisfied with their initial opinions on the book, and quickly move onto the next one.
The only time I reread is either when proofreading my own work or I run into something I truly don't understand, but after reading How to Read Literature like a Professor, I was enlightened by all the literary techniques that can be intertwined into text, and it shows that rereading can open up new ideas that you haven't seen before in text that you thought you were familiar with, and can even make you enjoy a story more than the first time around.
I agree that when I don't understand something, rereading is the only way to get a grip. I also do not read for pleasure frequently so rereading I only do if I must. Foster mentions rereading as a tool to uncover parallels that the were missed on the first read. Once a reader is familiar with the plot he/she can focus more easily on the details that were glazed over before. I also reread mainly to check my own composition, or if there is an article/essay that needs to be read thoroughly and understood for class discussion.
ReplyDeleteThe best part about most works of literature is that exciting, unexpected plot twist. If the twist is already known it becomes less interesting. This is why nobody ever wants others to spoil a movie or a book. There is pleasure in embarking on a journey and not knowing what lies ahead. Although great works of art are able to be re-read or re-watched over and over due to the stellar craftsmanship of the author or director. One great example is Star Wars. I am aware of every death and every plot twist throughout the six movies yet I have watched three of them again over this break. The skill and ideas that were put into writing and directing these trilogies are so powerful and intriguing that I keep coming back.
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more Darius. I have never re-read something voluntarily. The only time I have ever re-read is for articles when Mrs. McElroy makes it an assignment. I think re-watching movies is a fair comparison to books. In my own opinion it is more entertaining to re-watch a movie than to re-read a book. However, a movie destroys creativity and a book allows the reader to see something from a new perspective every time. When I re-watch a movie such as Star Wars I do it for two reasons. The first is to experience that feeling of awe I had when I saw the movie for the first time. The second is to relish in the galactic adventures with my friends that have yet to see the movies. It is the same way with Mrs. McElroy and reading. She enjoys taking our Hamlet virginity and our Iliad virginity. It's fun to experience someone's first time with them. I think re-reading can be for self-satisfaction but also for a third person type of satisfaction.
ReplyDeleteDarius, I also do not reread anything I do not have to. Most of the reading I do is required, so the texts I read do not entice me as much as literature that I select for myself. As a result, I pretty much never reread unless there is a concept that I completely do not understand and am forced to reread just to grasp a small portion of the passage. I also believe that rereading is a fundamental tool that helps readers notice the small details that help them understand the text better. Sometimes the smallest details are the ones that matter the most.
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