What is reader response theory?

"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.