Literary Theory: Reader-Response Criticism

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Questions and Answers

What is Stanley Fish's main concern?

The reader and how he constructs the meaning of a text.

How does Stanley Fish define a text?

He calls it a 'temporal experience' instead of a concrete absolute text.

What is an interpretive community according to Stanley Fish?

A group of people who constructs the meaning of the text from a certain point of view.

How can the interpretation of the word 'forest' in William Blake's 'The Tyger' change the meaning of the text?

<p>It changes based on the reader's interpretation of what 'forest' means to them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Stanley Fish's Main Concern

Stanley Fish believes the reader is the key to understanding a text.

What Is a Text According to Stanley Fish?

A text is not a fixed thing, but rather an experience that unfolds as the reader interacts with it.

Interpretive Community

A group of people who share a common understanding and interpretation of texts.

How Does 'Forest' Change Text Meaning?

The meaning of 'forest' in Blake's poem is not fixed but depends on the reader's personal understanding.

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Study Notes

Stanley Fish's Perspective

  • Emphasizes the reader's role in constructing meaning from a text.
  • Argues that meaning is subjective and varies based on individual interpretation.

Concept of Text

  • Fish refers to texts as "temporal experiences," rejecting the notion of a concrete, absolute text.
  • Stresses that interpretation is influenced by personal values, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds.

Interpretive Community

  • Introduces the term "interpretive community," highlighting how a group shares a specific viewpoint that shapes their understanding of a text.
  • Claims that interpretations are shaped through discourse, blurring the lines between objectivity and subjectivity.

Meaning in Interpretation

  • Illustrates through William Blake's "The Tyger" how the interpretation of the word "forest" alters the text's overall meaning based on individual perspectives.
  • Posits that interpretations are subjective; there are no absolute right or wrong interpretations, only evidence constructed from various viewpoints.

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