What is reader response theory?

Question

Reader Response Theory , “ A literary criticism where both the text and the author are ignored, and then focuses primarily on the readers reactions.” The ...

Gaatha Anand · Accepted Answer

"Readers response theory" is actually one of the most complicated concepts in literary studies. In spite of its complexity, readers response theory has been largely responsible for the development of many fields within literary studies and it continues to be a fruitful line of inquiry for scholars. So what exactly is this mysterious and somewhat daunting branch of literature? Readers Response Theory was first put forth by William Labov in 1966. Labov viewed his analysis, which focused on features such as voice and point-of-view, as an extension of what he called "sociolinguistics." He explained that language use is dependent on societal norms, customs, and expectations.

READER RESPONSE THEORY/ORIGIN: Developed throughout the 20th century, reader response theory has been us… | Reader response, Reader response theory, Book club books

Khyati Anand · Answer

Reader Response Theory , “ A literary criticism where both the text and the author are ignored, and then focuses primarily on the readers reactions.” The theory became popular in the late 1960’s, and mainly focuses on the reader or audience reaction to a particular text. The Reader Response Theory allows the inferences and insights by the reader.The theory accepts that the reader’s background knowledge and experiences impacts his/her interpretation of a text.