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I know it sounds strange, but I read HTRLLP after I read 'The Art of War' so I had the on my mind as I read. They felt similar with the discussions of patterns in stories, underlying themes, and just breaking a simple thing down into more complex parts. In both readings, everything fits together like a puzzle, like a work of art. Though while HTRLLP is about stories, TAoW is about intelligence and strategy.

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Faustian Bargin

Deal where someone trades their soul, morality, or integrity for material gain, power, or knowledge.

Grammar of Literature

Conventions, codes, and pattersnt that structure how the stories are told. Including plot structures, character types, and symbolic meanings

Conventions

Accepted literary norms and patterns (Ex.spring symbolizing renewal, snow symbolizing death or purity).

Quest

Journey or mission. Structure includes

A Quester | the main character who goes on the journey.

A Place to Go | the destination or goal.

A Stated Reason | the task or mission given.

Challenges and Trials | obstacles along the way.

The Real Reason | always self-knowledge (the deeper purpose of the journey)

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One key term for me is symbol. A symbol is when something in the story stands for more than just itself. For example, a place or object can show a bigger idea.

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One key term for me is symbol. A symbol is when something in the story stands for more than just itself. For example, a place or object can show a bigger idea.

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In HTRLLP there is a short story about 'Kip' a boy who is going on a quest at a grocery store, similar the setting in A&P is also a grocery store. Both readings make a simple, normal day at a simple, normal place more exciting than it has to be. With Kip and his quest and Sam and his epiphany on life. Both have a unique narrative style of making ordinary things special

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zeynah

In Foster’s first chapter, he talks about how every trip in literature is really a quest, even when it doesn’t look like one. That idea I think fits with John Updike’s A & P. Sammy isn’t just quitting his grocery store job to impress some girls, he’s on this little personal journey. He’s the “quester,” the A&P becomes his “place to go,” and the reason is sticking up for the girls after Lengel embarrasses them. But the biggest or more real reason is self-knowledge. Sammys choice forces him to see himself differently as someone who wants to resist authority and stand up for what he thinks is right, even if it’s awkward. Foster’s writing makes me see Sammy not as a dramatic teenager but as someone taking his steps into adulthood.

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n HTRLLP and A&P, both stories feature two teenagers in a supermarket who attempt heroic acts, but their efforts don’t turn out the way they expected

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Zeynah

In Chapter 1, Foster explains the “quest” structure: a quester, a destination, a reason to go, challenges along the way, and the hidden goal of self-discovery. I like how he breaks it down because it makes me realize that even the simplest stories have deeper meanings or themes. It kinda reminds me of the boy who cried wolf.

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HTRLLP's idea of looking beyond the surface plot reminds me of Anita Brookner’s novel Undue Influence, where the main character Claire constantly analyzes the people around her. Claire’s skill and interest in breaking down her surroundings reflects the point that deeper meaning often lies beneath the surface, just as readers should find the elements that build a novel rather than only following the plot.

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In the first chapter, HTRLLP talks about the idea of the quest and how the roles within it shape the story. In A&P, this can be seen through the characters: Sammy as the lowly quester, the girls as the “princess,” and his coworker as the antagonist. This framework matches the pattern described and develops a strong sequence in A&P.

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The grammar of literature refers to the conventions or patterns that structure how stories are told, and it can help readers recognize recurring symbols. These conventions can include character types, plot rhythms, and point of view.