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?
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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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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.
