Reader-response criticism revolves around the phenomena ‘Respond to Reading’. The theory identifies the reader as a significant and active agent who is responsible to impart the real meaning of the text by interpreting it. The modern school of thought argues on the existing perception of the literature. According to it, literature is like a performing art that enables reader creates his own text-related unique performance. It stood against the other theories of New Criticism and formalism, which totally ignored the reader’s role in re- creating the meaning. New criticism considered that only structure, form, and content, or whatever is within the text, create the meaning. There was no appeal to the author’s intention or his authority, nor did it consider the reader’s psychology. None of this single element was focused on the new critics orthodox. Purpose of Modern Reading-Response Theory Reader- Response theory exhibits an essential role of the reader when it comes to creating the meaning of the text. The heory works with an ideology of ‘Reader existence’. According to it, it is only the reading experience in which iterary work comes alive. For instance, in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, there is no monster until a reader reads it, imagines and reanimates the horrible creature to life. The whole process makes a reader a co-creator of the novel. This surfaces the purpose of this modern theory that examines, explains and defends the personal reaction of a reader. Evidence-based Criticism here is no right or wrong answer to a reading response. Nonetheless, it is important that you demonstrate anunderstanding of the reading and clearly explain and support your reactions. Do not use the standard approach of just writing: “I liked this text because it is so cool and the ending made me feel happy,” or “I hated it because it was stupid, and had nothing at all to do with my life, and was too negative and boring.” In writing a response you may assume the reader has already read the text. Thus, do not summarize the contents of the text at length. Instead, take a systematic, analytical approach to the text. Typical Questions (Reader Response) The following are just some of the questions you might ask about a text when using the Reader Response Theory. ¢ How much does the text agree or clash with your view of the world, and what you consider right and wrong? ¢ What did you learn, and how much were your views and opinions challenged or changed by this text, if at all? ¢ How well does the text address things that you, personally, care about and consider important to the world? How does it address things that are important to your family, your community, your ethnic group, to people of your economic or social class or background, or your faith tradition? ¢ What can you praise about the text? What problems did you have with it?¢ How well did you enjoy the text (or not) as entertainment or as a work of art? ¢ What reaction does the author seem to expect from the readers? Did you react as expected? ¢ Do you feel sympathy towards any of the characters in the text? Key Takeaways ¢ In reader-response, the reader is essential to the meaning of a text for they bring the text to life. ¢ The purpose of a reading response is examining, explaining, and defending your personal reaction to a text. ¢ The challenge of a reader-response is to show how you connected with the text. Sources: Adapted from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-americanlit1/ chapter/putting-it-together-4/ https://www.aresearchguide.com/reader-response- criticism.html