The Crafty Reader

“I believe that it is in our interest as individuals to become crafty readers, and in the interest of the nation to educate citizens in the craft of reading. The craft, not the art. . . . This book is about that craft.”—from the Introduction This latest book from the well-known literary critic Robert Scholes presents his thoughtful exploration of the craft of reading. He deals with reading not as an art or performance given by a virtuoso reader, but as a craft that can be studied, taught, and learned. Those who master the craft of reading, Scholes contends, will justifiably take responsibility for the readings they produce and the texts they choose to read. Scholes begins with a critique of the New Critical way of reading (“bad for poets and poetry and really terrible for students and teachers of poetry”), using examples of poems by various writers, in particular Edna St. Vincent Millay. He concludes with a consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of the fundamentalist way of reading texts regarded as sacred. To explain and clarify the approach of the crafty reader, the author analyzes a wide-ranging selection of texts by figures at the margins of the literary and cultural canon, including Norman Rockwell, Anaïs Nin, Dashiell Hammett, and J. K. Rowling. Throughout his discussion Scholes emphasizes how concepts of genre affect the reading process and how they may work to exclude certain texts from the cultural canon and curriculum. This latest book from the well-known literary critic Robert Scholes presents his thoughtful exploration of the craft of reading. He deals with reading not as an art or performance given by a virtuoso reader, but as a craft that can be studied, taught, and learned. Those who master the craft of reading, Scholes contends, will justifiably take responsibility for the readings they produce and the texts they choose to read. Scholes begins with a critique of the New Critical way of reading ("bad for poets and poetry and really terrible for students and teachers of poetry"), using examples of poems by various writers, in particular Edna St. Vincent Millay. He concludes with a consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of the fundamentalist way of reading texts regarded as sacred. To explain and clarify the approach of the crafty reader, the author analyses a wide-ranging selection of texts by figures at the margins of the literary and cultural canon, including Norman Rockwell, Anais Nin, Dashiell Hammett, and J. K. Rowling. Throughout his discussion Scholes emphasises how concepts of genre affect the reading process and how they may work to exclude certain texts from the cultural canon and curriculum.

In this original book, B. Kumaravadivelu presents a macrostrategic framework designed to help both beginning and experienced teachers develop a systematic, coherent, and personal theory of practice. His book provides the tools a teacher needs in order to self-observe, self-analyze, and self-evaluate his or her own teaching acts.

The framework consists of ten macrostrategies based on current theoretical, empirical, and experiential knowledge of second language and foreign language teaching. These strategies enable teachers to evaluate classroom practices and to generate techniques and activities for realizing teaching goals. With checklists, surveys, projects, and reflective tasks to encourage critical thinking, the book is both practical and accessible. Teachers and future teachers, researchers, and teacher educators will find the volume indispensable.

This Latest Book From The Literary Critic Robert Scholes Presents His Exploration Of The Craft Of Reading. He Deals With Reading Not As An Art Or Performance Given By A Virtuoso Reader, But As A Craft That Can Be Studied, Taught, And Learned. Those Who Master The Craft Of Reading, Scholes Contends, Will Justifiably Take Responsibility For The Readings They Produce And The Texts They Choose To Read.--jacket. Introduction: Reading As A Craft -- Reading Poetry: A Lost Craft -- Reading The World: Textual Realities -- Heavy Reading: The Monstrous Personal Chronicle As A Genre -- Light Reading: The Private-eye Novel As A Genre -- Fantastic Reading: Science Fantasy As A Genre -- Sacred Reading: A Fundamental Problem -- Conclusion: A Crafty Reader. Robert Scholes. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 245-250) And Index. Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction: Reading as a Craft......Page 12 Reading Poetry: A Lost Craft......Page 20 Reading the World: Textual Realities......Page 95 Heavy Reading: The Monstrous Personal Chronicle as a Genre......Page 123 Light Reading: The Private-Eye Novel as a Genre......Page 157 Fantastic Reading: Science Fantasy as a Genre......Page 202 Sacred Reading: A Fundamental Problem......Page 231 Conclusion: A Crafty Reader......Page 259 Works Cited......Page 264 Index......Page 270