Crash Course: How and Why We Read

What is the primary purpose of stories and writing?

• To establish markers of civilization

• To provide entertainment

• To facilitate communication of complex ideas and experiences

• To create a record of historical events

What is the speaker's view on the importance of authorial intent in understanding a book?

• It is the most important factor in interpreting a text

• It dictates the only correct meaning of a text

• It is less important than the reader's experience and interpretation

• It is irrelevant; only the reader's interpretation matters

Which literary devices does the speaker mention as tools for describing complex internal experiences?

• Alliteration and assonance

• Simile and personification

• Hyperbole and metaphor

• Onomatopoeia and imagery

What is one of the key benefits of reading critically and attentively?

• It helps you memorize more facts about literature

• It allows you to understand lives other than your own and become more empathetic

• It guarantees you will avoid personal heartbreak

• It makes you a better writer by teaching you grammar rules

How does reading connect people, using the example of the green light in The Great Gatsby?

• It allows authors to directly communicate their intentions to readers

• It helps readers understand universal human experiences and emotions

• It provides a common topic for discussion among literary scholars

• It enables readers to travel to different historical periods