Answer to Question #248794 in English for Constance Dineo Ma

Question

A Christmas Story”-Reader Response theory suggests that various influences can affect a reader’s interpretation of a text. In a short paragraph, explain this theory and explore why it would be useful to evaluate the extract using the Reader Response method. Suggest which aspects of the method could be applied

Answer 1

Reader Response theory asserts that readers actively make the meaning they find in text rather than passively consuming the meaning passed to them. According to the theory, the reader's reactions to literature are vital in interpreting the meaning of the text and thus, the role of the reader cannot be omitted from our understanding of literature. Students are required to criticize their text based on their personal experience, feelings and opinions by quoting verbatim as proof to support the critics and text accordance.

It would be useful to evaluate "A Christmas Story" using the Reader Response method because it would help explore a learner's personal relation and connection with and reaction to the text based on their culture. Aspects of the method that could be applied in this context include: a textual reader-response strategy where the students glean meaning form the text by performing a close reading or a transactional reader-response strategy where learners transact with the text by bringing in their past life experiences to help interpret the text.