Illness

1. Jenkins
Eng 12CP
DUE: ________
Cornell Notes Focus Questions
“...And [It’s] Rarely Just Illness” Chapter
How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas Foster
Instructions: Your Cornell notesshould ultimately address the following questions and concepts articulated below. That said, you
are not just merely sticking to thisinformation alone and your notes should NOT merely be a list of these questions with answers.
You are to use your noteson the entire chapterto address the main idea points presented here.
1. What it meant by the title “[It’s] Rarely Just Illness”?
2. Explain the quote: “Our interest is...in what his condition is telling us about him….about the
story at large” (Foster 214). What does this suggest about the role of illness in a story?
3. According to the chapter, what was the major factor in making illness/disease“frightening” and
“mysterious” to audiences/readers?
4. In your own words, list & explain (in paraphrasing form) the 4 Principles of Disease in
Literature.
5. Foster explains the ways in which illness/disease offers “metaphorical possibilities” (218). Cite,
paraphrase, & explain one of his examples.
6. Foster notes, “Every age has its special disease” (222). What does this imply about reading
literature written during or taking place in different historical time periods?
7. Foster claims that “the most effective illness is the one the writer makes up” further asserting,
“A made-up illness...can say whatever its makes wants it to say” (224-25). Basedon this claim,
why is made-up illness the most effective?
KEY VOCABULARY: existentialism, or, “existentialist” (Foster 219)
FOCUS CORRECTIONAL AREAS

2. Jenkins
Eng 12CP
________/ 30 Total Points
MRS J YOU TOTAL
PTS
10 All main idea questions prompted (above) are fully addressed/answered.
5 Each key vocabulary word appears highlighted/underlined and accurately defined.
5 Key Concepts include a record ofat least 8-10 key ideas expressed directly in the
text (should appear as a balance between direct quoting and key phrases/points).
5 Recorded Notes include thorough and accurate responses to the Key Concepts
section by specifically referencing details from the text.
5 Summary fully and accurately sums up, in 6-8 sentences minimum, at least 5 main
ideas expressed in the chapter.
Requirements:
❏ MLA format; types (unless otherwise approved)
❏ Cornell notes format (must include Key Concepts, Recorded Notes, & Summary sections)
❏ Chapter title in quotation marks and book title in italics/underline
❏ Notes appear in “short-hand” techniques are used in that bullet points, indentation,
highlighting/bolding/underlining appear to organize the chapter in notation form
Hannah Hitchcock
Mrs. Jenkins
English 12CP

3. Jenkins
Eng 12CP
1 Jan. 2016
“Illness”
KEY CONCEPTS RECORDED NOTES
1. What is meant by the title
“[It’s] Rarely Just Illness”?
2. Explain the quote: “Our
interest is… in what his
condition is telling us about
him… about the story at
large.” (Foster 214) What
does this suggest about the
role of illness in a story?
3. According to the chapter,
what was the major factor in
making illness/disease
“frightening” and
“mysterious” to
audiences/readers?
4. In your own words, list and
explain (in paraphrasing
form) the 4 Principles of
Disease in Literature.
5. Foster explains the ways in
which illness/disease offers
“metaphorical possibilities”
(218). Cite, paraphrase, and
explain one of his examples.
6. Foster notes, “Every age has
its special disease” (222).
What does this imply about
reading literature written
during or taking place in
different historical time
periods?
7. Foster claims that “the most
effective illness is the one
the writer makes up” further
asserting, “A made-up
illness...can say whatever its
makes wants it to say” (224-
1. Disease is more than just physical. It is also in literature.
Just like in real life, every disease is treated differently as
well as in literature and just like a disease, literature should
be mysterious as well.
2. Mainly what this is saying is that on the surface of literature
isn’t the whole story. There’s always a deeper meaning
underneath the text and what you read.
3. Everyone loves a good read, bottom line. So making stories
intense and keeping the reader's mind wondering and wanting to
finish the story is what really keeps people interested. If you can
figure out how to make a story just the right amount of frightening
and mysterious, you’ve got the right idea. The major factor in this
is consumption. Consuming the reader into literature just like a
disease consumes a human.
4. There are 4 main principles of Disease in Literature. The first is
Not all diseases are created equal. They compare literature to
diseases like cholera and gonorrhea. Literature can be complicated,
unique and different just like every disease. The second is it should
be picturesque. Picturesque in literature is like the person suffering
from TB and having still some sort of beauty there with the skin
becoming translucent and the eye sockets darkening. The third
Disease in Literature is being mysterious. Diseases are very weird
and mysterious. It’s weird just thinking about that something as
small as bacteria can seriously harm you. Literature can be just as
weird and mysterious. The last disease is there should be a strong
symbolic or metaphorical possibilities If there was a metaphor for
smallpox no one would want to know it. But TB is a more wasteful
disease.
5. Foster compares metaphorical possibilities in literature to
smallpox. Being that if there was a metaphor for smallpox no one
would want to know. But if TB had a metaphor since it is more of a
wasting away, literally because your body is basically deteriorating
and growing thinner. Since there is no cure for TB it makes it even
more ugly and scary too. Perfect for a metaphor!
6. Every disease has it’s era. For example you wouldn’t really write
a book in today’s time period about smallpox or polio since there’s
vaccines and all that to prevent it.
7. The most effective illness is the one the writer makes up. A

4. Jenkins
Eng 12CP
25). Based on this claim,
why is made-up illness the
most effective?
made up illness can be whatever it wants. Since it’s made up, there
is no wrong or right thing to say about something that isn’t
technically real. Same goes with literature. If a book is fiction, you
can write about whatever you wanted and it could be the biggest
lies ever. But since it’s made up, it doesn't matter.
SUMMARY: