COMPREHENSION 1. Summarire what Adler means by "marking up a book."
2. In your own words, explain how you believe Adler would define the word boot.
3. Adler mentions books throughout the essay. What particular type of book is he
referring to?
RHETORIC
1. What is the tone of the essay? What can you infer from this tone about Adler's emo-
tional relationship to books?
2. Paragraph 15 lists devices for marking a book. What is the function of enumerating
them in this way? How would the tone of this section have been altered if Adler had
summarized these devices in paragraph form?
3. The author makes reference to various intellectual and artistic figures and works in
the essay: How does this help determine for whom the essay has been targeted?
4. Study the relationship between paragraph 9 and paragraphs 10-12. What is the rhe
torical format of this section? What method of argumentation is Adler employing?
5. Adler uses the analogy that "reading a book should be: a conversation between you
and the author." What other analogies can you find in the essay?
6. Adler raises objections to his argument and then refutes the objections. Where does
he make use of this rhetorical device? How effective is it in advancing his argument?
7. Adler calls Gone with the Wind "light fiction." Is this opinion or fact? Is it a mere obser-
vation or a criticism of the book?