When authors craft scenes that involve food or meals, they're often doing more than just feeding their characters. As Thomas C. Foster explores in Chapter 2 of How to Read Literature Like a Professor, dining together in literature is almost never just about the act of eating—it’s about communion, conflict, power, culture, and transformation. Understanding how eating functions symbolically in literature can reveal deeper meanings tied to character development, thematic resonance, and emotional tension. In this guide, we’ll explore how you can uncover those hidden layers and start reading every shared bite in literature like a professor.
Understanding Food as Literary Device
Food in literature is far more than sustenance for characters—it is a symbol, a metaphor, and a narrative tool. When authors include scenes involving meals, consumption, or references to food, they are often inviting the reader to look deeper into the subtext. As Thomas C. Foster discusses in Chapter 2 of How to Read Literature Like a Professor, “whenever people eat or drink together, it's communion.” This idea prompts readers to consider food scenes not by their literal content, but by their symbolic weight.
The Symbolism of Shared Meals
In literary analysis, shared meals are rarely about the food itself. Instead, they often symbolize relationships, unity, or even conflict. A meal can represent peace and harmony, such as in scenes where characters come together after a long separation. Conversely, a tense or disrupted meal might symbolize betrayal or disconnection. Foster emphasizes that the act of eating together is inherently intimate and social, and thus ripe for literary interpretation.
For example, in James Joyce’s The Dead, the Christmas dinner is laden with emotional and narrative significance. The meal acts as a framework for character development, revealing social dynamics and personal histories. Readers are encouraged to see beyond the menu to the underlying themes of memory, identity, and mortality.
Food as a Narrative Tool
Authors often use food to develop characters and advance the plot. What characters eat, how they eat, and with whom they eat can offer insights into their personalities, class, culture, and emotional states. In literature, a lavish feast might signify wealth or gluttony, while a meager meal may reflect poverty or humility.
In Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel, food becomes a conduit for emotion and magical realism. The protagonist Tita infuses her cooking with her feelings, which are then transferred to those who eat her food. This intertwining of emotion and physical nourishment is a vivid example of how food operates as a literary device to explore themes of love, repression, and resistance.
Communion and Conflict at the Table
Foster points out that not every meal is a literal communion, but nearly every meal in literature carries symbolic overtones. For a meal to qualify as literary communion, it must involve some level of shared experience and the potential for transformation. This makes food a powerful device for revealing shifts in relationships or foreshadowing events.
Moreover, food can be a site of conflict. Consider the poisoned apple in _Snow White_—a seemingly benign item of food becomes lethal. This inversion of the nourishing nature of food adds dramatic tension and can underscore themes of deception and danger.
Cultural and Historical Contexts of Food in Literature
Understanding the cultural and historical context of food in a text enhances interpretation. For instance, a reader who recognizes the significance of bread and wine in Christian traditions will grasp deeper meanings in literary references to these items. Similarly, traditional dishes mentioned in postcolonial literature may serve to affirm heritage or critique colonial influences.
In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the yam is more than a staple crop—it is a symbol of masculinity, wealth, and social order within the Igbo culture. Such cultural signifiers enrich the narrative and provide readers with a lens through which to understand the characters’ values.
Recognizing Patterns and Themes Through Food
A key strategy discussed in How to Read Literature Like a Professor is pattern recognition. Readers should take note when food scenes recur or when the act of eating becomes a motif. Repetition often signals thematic importance. If food consistently appears at moments of emotional climax or social change, it’s likely the author is using it to underscore those themes.
By analyzing how food functions across different texts, readers can begin to see common literary patterns—such as meals marking turning points in relationships or food symbolizing larger societal issues like class disparity or colonialism.
Conclusion
Reading food in literature as a symbolic device rather than a literal detail allows for a deeper, more nuanced interpretation of texts. Whether expressing communion, creating conflict, or revealing character, food serves as a versatile and meaningful literary tool. By adopting a professor’s analytical approach and paying close attention to the context and patterns surrounding food, readers can uncover the rich layers of meaning that lie beneath the surface of a seemingly simple meal.
Common Food-Related Symbols
In literature, food often carries symbolic weight that extends far beyond the literal act of eating. As discussed in Chapter 2 of How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster, meals in literature are rarely just about sustenance. Instead, shared meals—whether harmonious or tense—often serve as powerful symbols for communion, power dynamics, social structures, or even betrayal. Understanding these food-related symbols provides deeper insight into character relationships, thematic development, and authorial intent.
Eating as Communion
One of the most common symbolic uses of food in literature is the meal as a form of communion. When characters share food, it often represents unity, bonding, and a moment of peace. These scenes are rarely about the food itself; rather, they highlight the relationships among characters. For example, a dinner shared by protagonists may mark the beginning of trust or mutual respect. Conversely, a disrupted or failed meal can symbolize conflict or disunity.
This idea of breaking bread as a symbolic act draws from religious and cultural traditions, such as the Christian Eucharist, where sharing bread and wine signifies spiritual unity and forgiveness. In literature, when characters come together to eat, the act often echoes these deeper symbolic resonances.
Meals as Power Structures
Meals in literature can also reflect power dynamics. Who prepares the meal, who is invited, and where the meal takes place can all signal deeper meanings. A host may assert dominance by controlling the menu or seating arrangement, while a guest’s behavior at the table can indicate deference, rebellion, or manipulation.
Foster explains that even seemingly mundane meal scenes are constructed with intention. For instance, in works like Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, the meals Pip shares with others often reflect his changing social status and internal conflicts. In such scenes, food becomes a vehicle for exploring class, identity, and ambition.
Food as a Symbol of Temptation or Desire
Food is frequently used to symbolize temptation or forbidden desires. This symbolic usage can be traced back to biblical stories, such as Eve's consumption of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. In modern literature, characters might be drawn to certain foods that represent indulgence, sexuality, or moral compromise.
For example, in many gothic or romantic narratives, food—particularly rich, exotic, or decadent dishes—can symbolize carnal longing or excess. The act of eating can thus become a metaphor for giving in to primal urges or crossing moral boundaries.
Poisoned Meals and Betrayal
When food carries a negative connotation in literature, it often signals betrayal or danger. Poisoned meals or drinks are a direct inversion of the idea of communion, turning an act of trust into one of treachery. These instances are symbolic of broken relationships, hidden agendas, and the corruption of what is supposed to be a nurturing act.
A classic example appears in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, where the banquet scene underscores Macbeth’s descent into guilt and paranoia. What should be a celebratory meal becomes a haunting tableau that reflects the unraveling of moral order.
Cultural and Historical Symbolism in Food
Authors frequently use food to reflect cultural or historical contexts. Specific dishes can symbolize heritage, assimilation, or resistance. In postcolonial or immigrant literature, food often functions as a link to home and identity. It can also highlight cultural clashes or the tension between tradition and modernity.
For instance, in Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies, traditional Indian meals are laden with meaning, representing both comfort and alienation for characters navigating life in a new country.
Reading Food Symbolism Effectively
To interpret food symbolism in literature, readers should pay attention to:
- The context of the meal: Who is present? What is the occasion?
- The tone of the scene: Is the atmosphere warm and communal or tense and awkward?
- The nature of the food: Is it simple or elaborate? Familiar or foreign?
- The outcome of the meal: Does it foster connection, conflict, or revelation?
By analyzing these elements, readers can gain a richer understanding of how authors use food not only to advance the plot but also to deepen characterization and thematic complexity. As Foster emphasizes, "whenever people eat or drink together, it’s communion"—and in literature, that communion is almost never accidental.
Analyzing Eating Scenes
In Chapter 2 of How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Thomas C. Foster delves into the symbolic and narrative significance of eating scenes in literature. At first glance, a meal shared by characters may appear mundane or simply functional, but Foster argues that such scenes often serve a deeper symbolic purpose. By analyzing these moments closely, readers can uncover nuanced insights into relationships, themes, and character development.
Eating as Communion
Foster introduces the idea that eating together in literature is rarely just about food. Instead, it often represents a form of communion. This communion doesn’t need to be religious in nature—though it sometimes is—but it always signifies a coming together, a moment of shared experience that reveals something about the characters involved. When characters break bread together, it usually indicates some level of trust, intimacy, or alliance. Conversely, when a meal goes wrong, it may suggest tension, betrayal, or conflict.
For example, in James Joyce’s The Dead, the dinner scene is filled with emotional undercurrents that hint at deeper familial and romantic tensions. The seemingly simple act of sharing a meal becomes a stage for revealing character dynamics and unresolved issues.
Symbolism and Subtext
Foster emphasizes that scenes involving food often carry symbolic weight. The type of food, the setting, who is invited, who is excluded, and how the meal proceeds can all convey subtext. A formal banquet may symbolize power structures or social hierarchy, while a modest meal may underscore themes of humility or solidarity.
In literature, who eats with whom—and under what circumstances—can be a profound indicator of social or emotional dynamics. For instance, in Toni Morrison’s Beloved, the act of eating together becomes a restorative process that signifies healing and reconnection after trauma.
Eating Gone Wrong
Just as shared meals can symbolize unity, disrupted or failed meals can symbolize discord. Foster points out that a meal gone awry—whether through argument, illness, or dramatic interruption—often signals a breakdown in relationships or a deviation from social norms. These moments are not accidental; they are carefully constructed by authors to convey deeper meaning.
One notable example is in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, where the banquet scene is interrupted by Macbeth’s hallucination of Banquo’s ghost. This disruption not only undermines Macbeth’s authority but also marks a turning point in the psychological and moral deterioration of the character.
Reading Beneath the Surface
Foster encourages readers to look beyond the literal when encountering food and meals in literature. A dinner scene is rarely just a dinner scene. It's a tool used by authors to explore character psychology, social commentary, or thematic resonance. Readers should ask themselves:
- Who is present, and who is absent?
- What is the nature of the interaction?
- How does the meal reflect or contrast with the broader themes of the work?
By applying these questions, readers can transition from passive consumption of the text to active literary analysis.
Reference Points for Further Study
- Joyce, James. The Dead – A classic example of an emotionally charged dinner scene.
- Morrison, Toni. Beloved – Showcases the healing nature of communal eating.
- Shakespeare, William. Macbeth – Demonstrates how a meal can symbolize psychological unraveling.
- Foster, Thomas C. How to Read Literature Like a Professor – Chapter 2, "Nice to Eat with You: Acts of Communion," explores these concepts in detail.
Understanding the symbolic and thematic implications of eating scenes enriches reader comprehension and highlights the intentional artistry behind seemingly ordinary moments in literature.
Food Symbolism Across Literary Genres
Food in literature is rarely just about sustenance. As Thomas C. Foster explains in Chapter 2 of How to Read Literature Like a Professor, whenever characters eat or drink together, it often represents more than a casual meal — it’s a communion, a symbolic act of sharing, trust, or even betrayal. This concept of food as a metaphor or a symbolic device extends across literary genres, each employing it to reflect deeper themes, character development, and social commentary.
Symbolism in Fiction
In fiction, food frequently serves as a symbol of cultural identity, emotional state, or interpersonal dynamics. For instance, in novels like Laura Esquivel’s Like Water for Chocolate, food is directly tied to emotion and spirituality. The protagonist’s feelings are infused into the meals she prepares, affecting those who eat them. Through this, food becomes a vehicle for magical realism and emotional expression.
Similarly, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the lavish parties and overabundance of food and drink symbolize the excess and moral decay of the Jazz Age elite. Here, food is not nourishing but indulgent and superficial, reflecting the emptiness behind the glamor.
Food in Poetry
Poetry often uses food imagery to evoke sensory experiences or emotional undertones. Poets like Seamus Heaney and Pablo Neruda frequently incorporate food items—like potatoes or onions—not just as objects, but as carriers of cultural memory, labor, and intimacy. In Heaney’s poetry, for example, the act of digging or harvesting potatoes becomes a metaphor for uncovering personal and historical roots.
Theatrical Use of Food
In drama, food can serve as a powerful stage prop that reveals tension, hierarchy, or harmony between characters. In plays like Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the banquet scene is pivotal: the appearance of Banquo’s ghost during the feast turns a communal act into a psychological revelation of guilt and paranoia. Similarly, in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, the recurring motif of food—particularly the scene where Willy Loman is offered cheese—serves to highlight his desperation and the disintegration of familial relationships.
Food in Children's Literature and Fantasy
In children’s literature and fantasy genres, food often represents temptation, reward, or danger. C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe uses the enchanted Turkish Delight to symbolize temptation and betrayal. The food is not just a treat but a tool of manipulation, illustrating Foster’s point that “meals” in literature are rarely just about eating.
J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series also features food as a recurring motif that marks the boundary between the magical and mundane worlds. The feasts at Hogwarts symbolize community and safety, while the Dursleys’ cold, rationed meals represent neglect and emotional starvation.
Genre-Specific Nuances
While food symbolism exists across genres, the way it is used often depends on the conventions of the genre itself. In gothic literature, food can be grotesque, symbolizing decay or perversion, as seen in works like Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber. In dystopian fiction, the scarcity or control of food becomes a metaphor for societal oppression, such as in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, where regulated meals reflect the characters' lack of autonomy.
Interpreting Food Symbolism
As Foster emphasizes, recognizing when a meal is symbolic requires more than literal reading. Readers must consider who is eating, why, and under what circumstances. A dinner scene might suggest unity or alienation, depending on the context. It is this deeper level of reading—understanding the meal as a metaphor—that separates the casual reader from the literary analyst.
By examining food across these genres, we can see that meals in literature reveal much about character relationships, societal structures, and thematic undercurrents. Food, as Foster notes, is rarely just food—it is a narrative device, a symbol, and a window into the text’s deeper meanings.
Practical Analysis Methods
Effective literary analysis is not merely about understanding what happens in a story, but about unpacking how and why those events unfold in particular ways. In Chapter 2 of How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Thomas C. Foster emphasizes the necessity of seeing beyond the surface of a text to uncover deeper meanings, patterns, and thematic implications. The following practical methods help readers engage with texts like a literary professional.
Recognizing Patterns and Conventions
One of the foundational tools for literary analysis is the recognition of recurring patterns. Foster argues that seasoned readers develop a mental library of literary conventions—such as types of characters, plot structures, and symbolic settings—that enable them to interpret a new text more deeply and quickly.
For example, when a character embarks on a journey, it often symbolizes a quest—not just a physical journey, but a search for self-knowledge or fulfillment. Recognizing this common pattern allows readers to anticipate thematic developments and understand character motivations more profoundly.
Practical Tip:
When reading, ask: “Have I seen something like this before?” This question prompts you to draw connections to other texts, genres, or mythic structures, unlocking interpretive possibilities that may not be immediately apparent.
Interpreting Symbolism
Symbols are central to literary meaning, and identifying them is key to professional analysis. According to Foster, almost anything in a literary work can be symbolic—actions, objects, characters, or even weather. The meaning of a symbol is often context-dependent and can vary from one text to another.
For instance, rain could simply be a plot device, but it might also represent cleansing, renewal, or even tragedy. The skill lies in interpreting such symbols based on the narrative context and the emotional tone of the scene.
Practical Tip:
Look for repetition and emphasis. If an object or motif appears multiple times or is described in detail, it’s likely symbolic. Consider what abstract concept it may represent in the story’s emotional and thematic landscape.
Understanding Contextual and Historical Layers
Literature does not exist in a vacuum. Foster encourages readers to consider the broader historical, cultural, and literary contexts in which a work was created. Understanding a novel’s time period, the author’s background, and the literary traditions it engages with can unlock deeper meanings.
For example, reading Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” with knowledge of 19th-century attitudes toward women’s mental health adds layers of interpretation that are not immediately visible through the plot alone.
Practical Tip:
Research the time period and author when reading a text. Consider how social norms, political climates, and personal experiences might influence the narrative’s themes and character dynamics.
Engaging with Intertextuality
Foster highlights how literature often references or responds to other literary works, myths, and religious texts. This concept, known as intertextuality, enriches a reader’s understanding by revealing how one text builds upon or subverts the ideas of another.
For instance, James Joyce’s Ulysses mirrors Homer’s Odyssey, creating a complex interplay between ancient epic and modernist narrative. Recognizing such relationships transforms the reading experience from passive consumption to active dialogue with literary tradition.
Practical Tip:
When a passage feels familiar, consider whether it might echo a myth, biblical story, or historical event. Then think about how the author is using that allusion to comment on their own themes or characters.
Developing an Analytical Routine
Professional literary readers often engage in a consistent practice of annotating texts, asking questions, and writing down observations. This habit helps retain insights and fosters deeper engagement.
Start by noting significant passages, unfamiliar references, or recurring themes. Then, try writing brief reflections or questions in the margins. Over time, this builds an analytical habit that sharpens critical thinking.
Practical Tip:
Break down a reading session into stages: first, read for narrative comprehension; second, reread to identify patterns and symbols; third, annotate with insights and questions. This layered approach mirrors how professors and critics often interact with texts.
Applying the “Professorial” Lens
Ultimately, Foster’s chapter urges readers to approach literature with the mindset of a professor—curious, skeptical, and interpretive. This means resisting the instinct to accept the text at face value and instead asking, “What’s really going on beneath the surface?”
By integrating pattern recognition, symbolic interpretation, contextual awareness, intertextual analysis, and disciplined reading habits, anyone can begin to “read like a professor” and uncover the rich, multifaceted meanings embedded in literary works.
Understanding meals in literature through a professor’s lens transforms a seemingly mundane act into a rich site of meaning and interpretation. From communion to conflict and from cultural identity to carnal temptation, eating scenes reveal layers of character and theme that casual readers may miss. By training yourself to read beyond the literal and ask probing questions, you’ll unlock the analytical skills that foster deeper literary appreciation—one symbolic bite at a time. Ready to dive deeper? The next time you read a novel, pay attention to how food is served—it might just serve up the story’s biggest clues.
