Reader Response Criticism is a literary theory that emphasizes the reader's active participation in interpreting texts. It challenges the notion that meaning is fixed within the text, instead suggesting that personal experiences and cultural contexts shape understanding. Key concepts include the 'implied reader,' 'interpretive communities,' and the 'resisting reader.' The approach has been influenced by theorists like Hans Robert Jauss, Wolfgang Iser, and Stanley Fish, and has reshaped literary studies by acknowledging the collaborative nature of interpretation.
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Reader Response Criticism is a school of literary theory that focuses on the reader's role in interpreting a text
Emergence
Reader Response Criticism emerged as a counterpoint to New Criticism, advocating for the importance of the reader's contribution to the meaning of a text
Influence
Reader Response Criticism has been influenced by Poststructuralism, which also questioned the stability of meaning and highlighted the role of the reader in interpretation
Reader Response Criticism introduces several key concepts, including the 'implied reader,' 'interpretive communities,' and the 'resisting reader.'
In Reader Response Criticism, the reader's engagement with the text is central to the creation of meaning
The reading process is an interactive event where the reader actively participates by filling in gaps and forming expectations
A literary text is viewed as a performance in the context of Reader Response Criticism, with each reader's engagement creating a distinct realization of the text
Jauss introduced the concept of 'horizons of expectations,' which posits that readers' interpretations are influenced by their historical context
Iser introduced the 'implied reader' and focused on the reading experience
Rosenblatt proposed the transactional theory of reading, which considers the text and reader in a reciprocal relationship
Fish emphasized the significance of interpretive communities
Holland applied psychoanalytic principles to understand how readers' identities affect their interpretations
Bleich advocated for Subjective Reader Response Criticism, viewing personal reader responses as central to the meaning of the text
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The theory of ______ emerged in contrast to ______ which believed in analyzing a text's meaning as inherent and separate from the reader's interpretation.
Reader Response Criticism
New Criticism
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Origin of Reader Response Criticism
Began in late 1960s Germany with Hans Robert Jauss, spread to the US.
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Reader Response vs. New Criticism
Reader Response emphasizes reader's role in creating meaning, unlike New Criticism's focus on text alone.
