The reader’s point of view (reader’s perspective) in literature refers to the individual reader’s interpretation and understanding of a text. It concerns the reader’s personal experiences, beliefs, cultural and emotional backgrounds, which shape their understanding and response to the literary work.
A reader’s perspective can greatly influence the meaning they derive from a text and how they interact with it.The reader’s feedback approach to literature emphasizes the reader’s role in interpreting and understanding a text.
This shows that the meaning of a literary work is not fixed or predetermined by the author but is created by the interaction between the reader and the text. This approach focuses on the reader’s subjective experience, personal interpretation, and emotional response to the text.
Some characteristics of the reader feedback approach include:
1. Subjectivity:
Reader feedback theory posits that each reader brings their own experiences, beliefs, and perspectives into the reading process. Therefore, the interpretation of a text can vary greatly among different readers.
2. Active participation:
This approach encourages readers to actively engage with the text, allowing their personal experiences and feelings to shape their understanding and responses.
3. Multiple interpretations:
Reader feedback theory posits that there can be many valid interpretations of a text, as each reader will bring their own context and background to the reading process.
4. Importance of context:
The reader’s interpretation is influenced by his social, cultural and historical context. Reader feedback theory emphasizes the importance of considering these factors in understanding the text.
5. Transaction process:
The reader and the text are considered to be engaged in a transactional process in which meaning is negotiated between the two. Reader feedback is considered an integral part of the process of creating meaning.