How Should One Read a Book?

Literary references are used throughout the essay, and this intellectual information forms part of the essay’s educational design. Some of these require background knowledge to fully understand, showing that Woolf assumes a certain level of literary knowledge and interest from her “common reader.” These allusions, including names like Tolstoi (Tolstoy), Shakespeare, and Keats, give a common reader a brief and broad overview of the literary canon. Woolf’s references create a framework for her more detailed literary criticism. In her more in-depth analyses of Austen, for example, Woolf spells out exactly how Austen approaches a scene, what she cares about as opposed to other authors, and even mentions some potential criticisms of her writing style. Woolf does not ask the reader to simply trust her expertise on the matter. By referencing relevant authors, works, and characters, she appeals to the trust of readers and demonstrates her own experience and knowledge of literature.

Imagery is the use of words to invoke the other five senses. In the first paragraph, Woolf quite literally asks her reader to imagine that they are in the room with her. She goes on to mention sights, sounds, and feelings that help the reader join her.