reader-response
UK[ˈriːdə rɪˈspɒns]US[ˈriːdər rɪˈspɑːns]
n
A theory or approach in literary criticism that emphasizes the reader's role in creating the meaning of a text, rather than meaning residing solely in the author's intention or the text itself.
Morpheme Breakdown
reader
response
reader
noun
response
noun
Etymology
The compound term "reader-response" is a modern academic construction, synthesizing two distinct concepts to define a critical methodology. The first element, "reader," originates from the Old English tradition of interpreting texts, evolving from the act of advising to the act of reading. The second, "response," derives from the Latin legal and social concept of answering or pledging back, implying a reciprocal engagement. When combined in the mid-20th century, these morphemes logically construct the theory's core premise: meaning is not a fixed entity but is generated through the active "answer" or "reaction" (response) of the interpreter (reader) to the literary work.
Analysis
Structure: reader (noun) + response (noun)
- reader: From Old English rǣdere (advisor, interpreter, reader), from rǣdan (to advise, read). Of Germanic origin. Functions as the agent noun (one who reads).
- response: From Latin responsum (an answer), neuter past participle of respondēre (to answer), from re- (back) + spondēre (to pledge, promise). Functions as a noun denoting an answer or reaction.
Examples
The professor's analysis was grounded in reader-response theory, focusing on how different audiences might interpret the novel's ambiguous ending.
Reader-response criticism shifted the focus from authorial biography to the experiential process of reading.
Her paper examined the varied reader-responses to the poem across different historical periods.