Reader+Response+Criticism-Per+1

What is Reader Response Criticism?

 * Lorie Rosenblatt sums it up by saying, "A poem is what the reader lives through under the guidance of the text and experiences as relevant to the text" (Critical Approaches).
 * In that statement Rosenblatt is saying that a text can have many meanings based on how a reader reads the text and what experiences, thoughts, and feelings come to mind.
 * Basically, it means that a piece of text has no set meaning because each reader is going to interpret it differently.
 * Ultimately, we relate the things we read to ourselves and because each of us is different, the way we read and understand things is different from each other as well.

 There are two ways to view this optical illusion. Some people may see an old woman, or some people may see a young woman. It all depends on the way the audience views this picture. This is very similar to the concept of reading response, because everyone sees a picture differently with different views and opinions.

Critical Lenses allow you to view literature in a whole different way. New perspectives on an idea or meaning will enhance the work that much more. Reader Response Criticism is one of six lenses that can greatly improve a reader’s outlook on a novel. Based off this, it makes sense to view literature in this way. It leaves room for interpretation instead of the standard right or wrong answer. By bringing someone’s own experiences into a story and relating it to the situation or character in the book, it allows for a personal connection. By understanding the character’s thoughts and actions, it makes the literature more enjoyable and real since a similar circumstance has occurred in your own life. In conclusion, Reader Response is a critical lens that is considered a valid way of looking at a piece of writing.