The introduction of "Good Readers and Good Writers" by Vladimir Nabokov is first identified with a statement of where it comes from and when. This essay is an excerpt from Lectures on Literature and was first introduced in 1948. Nabokov begins to write his essay then by stating his thesis statement, "My course, among other things, is a kind of detective investigation of the mystery of literary structures" (Nabokov, page 1, paragraph 2). After this he talks about how he plans to approach his topics, which is very detailed and specific. He also used a letter from Flaubert to support his reasoning for this. Nabokov continues to explain why being so precise in studying so closely is important and eventually gets to the 'beef' of the essay. Vladimir uses very straight forwardness as a method in his introduction to get his point across and get on with the essay. The conclusion of his essay is characterized by the highlights of his points and what he wants the reader to learn from his writings. In this conclusion he writes the three main features of a great writer being "magic, story, lesson" (Nabokov, page 4, paragraph 3) and also the methods of a great reader, which he describes as one who "reads the book of genius not with his heart, not so much with his brain, but with his spine" (Nabokov, page 4, paragraph 3). All of these pieces of the puzzle will then in the end form a perfect picture of a great writer and a great reader.
Nabokov, Vladimirovich, and Fredson Bowers. Lectures on Literature. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1980. Print.
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