American Reader-Response Theory

American Reader-Response Theory emphasizes that a reader's personal experience, emotions, and background play a central role in interpreting a text. Instead of focusing solely on the author’s intentions or the text’s “fixed meaning,” this approach considers how individual readers bring their own perspectives to understanding a work. Each person’s response can shape the meaning of a story or poem, making reading a dynamic, interactive process. It highlights that meaning is not solely inherent in the text but is created through the active engagement between the reader and the text.