Literary Criticism ReaderResponse Theory New Historicism ReaderResponse Theory

Literary Criticism Reader-Response Theory & New Historicism

Reader-Response Theory The relationship between the reader and text is highly valued. A text sitting on a shelf does nothing. It does not come alive until reader and text are joined.

Reader-Response Theory The literary text possesses no fixed meaning; there is no one “correct” meaning.

Reader-Response Theory Literary meaning and value are “transactional”, created by the interaction of the reader and the text.

Reader-Response Theory Reader-Response criticism is often mistakenly believed to allow for any interpretation of a text. Although interpretation is given a wider berth than in other critiques, not every interpretation is equally valid.

Reader-Response Theory The “I” of the reader will always color the text. The reader’s preferences for interpretation will always make certain aspects of the work more important than others.

Reader-Response Theory Reader-response criticism can completely ignore authorial intent, but it will judge how well the author succeeds on his/her ability to appeal to different audiences (i. e. interpretive communities).

New Historicism Old Historical Criticism looked to a work as a reflection of its time. New Historicism evaluates how the work is influenced by the time in which it was produced, as well as what it might say about its historical time period. New Historicism also looks at populations marginalized through a literary work.

New Historicism For example, a Jane Austen novel concerns itself primarily with the upper class and the mid-to-upper class. New Historicists may praise the novel, but they will note that the servant class is completely marginalized in Austen’s work.

New Historicism It also examines the social sphere in which the author moved, the psychological background of the author, the books and theories that may have influenced the author, and any other factors which influenced the work of art.

New Historicism For example: A woman in her sixties writes a tell-all memoir about her experiences as a popular groupie traveling and partying with famous musicians during the 1960 s. New Historicism would look at how those events are portrayed by the author as an older woman influenced by the present time. Her work might also be influenced by the writings of other people who also wrote about that era. Or even the reputations/lasting fame of some of the artists she knew years ago.

New Historicism Also takes into account the biases of the critic. Any criticism of a work is necessarily tinged by the critic’s beliefs, experiences, backgrounds and prejudices.

New Historicism views history skeptically (one person or group’s historical account is undoubtedly subjective) but also more broadly in that it takes into consideration all kinds of “texts”—cultural, social, anthropological, political– and weighs them equally.

New Historicism New Historicists aim simultaneously to understand the work through its historical context and to understand cultural and social history through literature.