A Christmas Carol

In the chapter, "It's more than just rain or snow", Foster says that snow can beused to create almost any mood in a story such as happiness and loneliness. This can be seen in the christmas movie, "A Christmas Carol". Ebenezzer Scrooge is a perfect representation of a mood of lonileness set by the snow curing christmas that sets him off. As he goes through these three dreams of ghosts he is suddenly changed into a new mood of happiness that he has never felt in a long time. The snow during Christmas after that point of his life brings him joy.

Metamorphisis Irony

In the beginning of "the Metamorphisis" Kafka uses Foster's strategy of irony with Gregor's work chief showing up at his house when he doesnt show up at work. On page one Gregor talks about not liking the chief when he says he wants to tell him what he really feels about him. Then the chief comes all the way from work to his house to confront Gregor for only being late for work. This is like Foster's example of irony.

Metamorphisis,"Symbols"

In, "The Metamorphisis", Frank Kafka uses Foster's strategy of symbols with the way Gregor is treated by his family to show how he felt with his own family. He was also resented by his parents despite what he did for them. The fact that he doesn't give the father or other names is because he doesnt fell they deserved to be reognized in the story.

Saving Private Ryan

In the book, "How to read literature like a professor", Foster states that a quest in a story will always be about self-knowledge and the given reason for the quest will never be the true deeper reason. A prime example of a quest is shown by the movie,"Saving Private Ryan". The group of soldiers think they're going on a simple mission to bring a soldier home. Instead, all but two of them die and they obtain self-knowledge about why they are in the war in the fist place, to fight. The deeper meaning behind the failed quest is to show the brotherhodd of soldiers during the first World War. The true reason behind them going to the bridge at the end is to defend the bridge and fight instead of ust getting Private Ryan and going home.

Left Behind

In the chapter, "More than its gonna hurt you: concerning violence", Fostwer says that an author will kill characters to make action, cause plot complications, and plot complications, and to put characters under stress. (pg 80). This strategy can be seen in the Left Behind Series by Tim Lahaye. In the book series about the tribulation seen in the New Testament of the Bible, main characters of the story eventually always get killed off adding stress to those still living. It also causes plot complications as it surprises the reader who did not expect a main character to die. This strategy keeps the audience wondering what will happen next.

Frosty the Snowman

In the chapter, "It's more than just rain or snow", foster states that snow can be used to create any mood in a story such as happiness and lonileness or death and life. In the story Frosty the Snowman snow is used to be inviting and playful (pg. 80) as the group of children build the snowman that magically come to life. Then as it gets hotter the snpow is used to show life melting away as the snowman begins to turn into water.

Metamorphis: From the Bible

In, "The Metamorphisis", when Gregor first wakes up and is all of a sudden transformed it is like being saved or born again as said in the bible. One second you're just human and the next you're transformed into a follower of christ. This is an example of what Foster talks aboutin chapter "It's from the Bible".

The Brothers Grimm & Hanseldee and Greteldum

The Brothers Grimm is based around a "cursed" town that is stocked by a gigantic wolf and an evil witch with long hair who's locked in a tower rotting of old age. She sends out her Woodsman (the wolf) to kidnapp young girls so that she may once again be young. The wolf then captures a little girl with a red hood, a young blonde head girl named Greta, and four other girls and eventually his own daughter. Then the Brothers Grimm are called to rescue the girls and stop the witch's plan from happening. It was interesting to see how a fairy tale book which was called the Brothers Grimm come to the big screen and be filled with the same characters from that book put into one. Foster says that it is easier to write a story with classical fairy tale characters that we know, so it gives the plot more excitement.

The Adjustment Bureau & Yes, She's a Christ Figure, Too

David Norris, a young congressman soon to be Senator of New York, witnesses something that will change his life forever. He finds out that there is an organization that keeps watch of every person in world and makes sure that everything goeas according to "plan". David, now knowing about this "bureau", must keep quite and follow the plan or he will be "restarted", which means he must stay away from the women he loves or he will ruin his life and hers. Showing mercy, an agent named Harry, from the bureau, risk his life to help David to make his own destiny with his one and only. In the end, "The Chairman" of the Bureau, who writes the plans, gives David and Elise the oppurtunity to write their own future, together. Foster didn't only talk about alluding to the Bible, but about how certain characters could be seen as christ figures. Harry could be seen as a christ figure, due to his ability to help humans instead of "controlling" them. His ability to sacrifice his life to help not only a human, but a friend. Also faced his God (The Chairman) and let humans have the chance to write their path towards the future.

Family Guy- Blue Harvest & It's from Shakespeare...

Simliar to Andy Fickman's alluding concepts used in his production of "She's the Man", Seth MacFarlene creates a short film using his creation, Family Guy. Instead of alluding to Shakespeare, MacFarlene alludes to Star Wars. Blue Harvest is based around Star Wars Ep. 4: A New Hope, where familier Family Guy characters are put in place of the real actors and used make comical flick. Foster talks about how almost everything is alluded to Shakespeare. No, MacFarlene is alluding to a Shakespearean play, but he is using the same satyrical comedy used by Shakespeare in his plays, like crude humor.

Iron Man 2 & "It's More Than Rain or Snow"

Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, has to stop another mad man from destroying his legacy, his name, and what he believes in. Risking his own well being, he defeats his enemy known as Whiplash, who is from the snowy twisted yet isloated country of Russia. Foster discuss that rain and/ or snow can characterize, not only the setting, but how these characters' personalities will be. At the very being over the movie, the setting is in Moscow, Russia, which is perfect for a cold-blooded lunatic seeking revenge, like Whiplash. Snow, in literary terms or "Foster's terms", can describe a person or place as isolated, secretive, and/or outlawed. Seeing where Whiplash was born and raised, gives viewers the idea that he is troubled and revengeful.

The Road not Taken & … So Does Season

In the Beginning of Robert Frost’s poem, Frost uses the term “yellow wood” which means Fall.
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one travellor long I stood
And look down one long as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth”
Yellow wood means the leaves are falling and changing colors. The season creates the mood of the poem. “Maybe its hardwired into us that spring has to do with childhood and youth, summer with adulthood and romance and fulfillment and passion, autumn with decline and middle age and tiredness but also harvest, winter with old age and resentment and death.” (Foster 178) Seasons give readers an image and a prediction for the end of the story.

Harry Potter & Marked for Greatness

In the Harry Potter series, Harry’s scar is the most important mark in the whole series. The scar shows everyone the he is the “boy who lived”. Harry Potter’s scar is his mark for greatness. “Harry Potter got a Nimbus 2000 last year. Special permission from Dumbledore so he could play for Gryffindor. Hes not that good, its just because hes famous… famous for having a stupid sear on his forehead.” (Harry Potter 2 CH.4) This was said by Malfoy, Harry’s rival. Harry because of his scar was loved, hated, and feared by others. “All Characters who are as famous for their shape as they are for their behavior.” (Foster 193) Physical marks on a character tell the reader something about the character. The scar makes Harry a little evil because he has Voldemort in him.

Shawshank Redemption

What: Andy Duffrane is a newly welcomed convict, due to "murder". After 15 years of doing time, he discovers that he was framed for the crime he has committed. With corruption all around him, he then escape thru a sewage drain to the pouring rain of freedom.
Where: Foster talks about how being dropped in water can have different symbolic meaning: Drowning or Baptism
Why: When Andy finally makes his escape out of his cell, he is faced with a real "crappy" problem. Andy is forced to crawel 500 yards thru poop and into the pouring rain in which he falls face first into a puddle. Foster states that falling into some type of water source symbolizes either drowning or baptism. The crap could symbolize Andy's failures, sin, or wrong-doings. Once Andy fell into the puddle and rose up to the pouring rain, it proved that he came out "clean" and he was reborn back into the world.

Harry Potter & Rain & Snow

In an attempt this summer to read all the Harry Potter books before the new/last film came out as well as re-watch Deathly Hallows Part I & then, finally, Part 2, I was struck by the consistent use of rain, water & snow in both the books and the films. A few examples that seem especially significant include the, to quote Foster rather than Rowlings, "malicious rainstorm" (76) that plagues Harry's 3rd book Quidich game. True to Foster "rain falls on the just & unjust alike" so it serves as a leveler for both sides in the game, makes everyone "more miserable"(76) thus up-ing the challenge of the "quest" while refining Harry & his team capt. most specifically as well as enhancing the "mystery" (76) that follows Harry's "attack" during the game. Similarly in Deathly Hallows Part 1, Harry visits his parents' former home & graves while in snow. Ironically (chapter 26)it is Christmastime--a supposed time of celebration, yet the snow scenes seem to amplify Harry's isolation--Foster calls snow "stark, severe...inhospitable"-- & it also highlights the danger he is in. As Foster notes it is very "blanket"like (80) thus suggesting either a desire for death or the threat of it or the reality of his parents death.

Madagascar & Geography Matters…

Madagascar & Geography Matters…
The funny Movie series of Madagascar, animals from a New York City zoo accidently get thrown in the wild where they belong but they are very out of place there. “When writers send characters south its so they can run amok.” says Foster.
“Alex the Lion: THE WILD!? ARE YOU NUTS!? That is the worst idea I’ve ever heard!
Melman the Giraffe: Its unsanitary!
Marty the Zebra: The penguins are going so why can I?
Alex the Lion: Because the penguins are psychotic.” Foster says, “Geography can also define or even develop character.” (Foster 167) Changing the characters setting helps the characters change and grow.

Peter Pan & Flights of Fancy

In the classic story Peter Pan, Peter is a very free person who knows how to fly. In literature flight stands for escape and freedom. “Peter Pan: Wendy, Wendy when you are sleeping in your silly bed you might could be flying about with me saying funny things to the stars.” Wendy was probably asking herself if this was even real. Foster says, “Indeed, often in Literature in freeing of the spirit is seen in terms of flight.” (Foster 133) Characters who fly in stories usually are trying to escape danger or reality. Peter Pan flies because he never wants to grow up.

Shrek & Hanseldee and Greteldum

Throughout the Shrek movie series, Shrek is surrounded by characters from classic fairy tales. These characters help the movies build a plot.
“[Shrek discovers Snow White on the Kitchen table.]
Shrek: Oh, no no no no. Dead broad off the table!
Dwarf: Well where are we supposed to put her? The bed is taken.
Shrek: Huh?
[Shrek rushes over to find Big Bad Wolf in the bed]”
Its weird to have Snow White and The Big Bad Wolf in the same story, but also funny because we know that in the classic fairy tales they were not in the same story. Foster says that we want strangeness but we also want familiarity too.(Foster 63) Characters from classic stories make creating a plot for a writer easier. Fairy tales that everyone know make other stories make sense.