Literary Theory: Reader-Response Criticism
4 Questions
102 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

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

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.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Quiz Team

Description

Explore the concepts of reader-response criticism as highlighted by Stanley Fish. This quiz delves into how readers construct meaning and the subjective nature of texts based on individual interpretations.

More Like This

Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Browser