11.3 Reception Theory and Hans Robert Jauss
3 min read•july 22, 2024
Reception theory explores how readers actively create meaning when engaging with literature. It introduces the "horizon of expectations," a set of norms shaping . This approach challenges the idea of fixed textual meaning, recognizing that different readers may interpret the same work differently.
Hans Robert Jauss, a key figure in reception theory, emphasized how a reader's background influences their understanding of a text. This perspective highlights the dynamic nature of literary interpretation, acknowledging that a work's meaning can evolve as cultural contexts shift over time.
Reception Theory and Hans Robert Jauss
Key principles of reception theory
Top images from around the web for Key principles of reception theory
Venn Diagram of 3 Learning Styles | Venn Diagram of three di… | Flickr View original
Is this image relevant?
The Rhetorical Situation – Essentials for ENGL-121 View original
Is this image relevant?
What is Hermeneutics? Part B | Love in Truth View original
Is this image relevant?
Venn Diagram of 3 Learning Styles | Venn Diagram of three di… | Flickr View original
Is this image relevant?
The Rhetorical Situation – Essentials for ENGL-121 View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
Top images from around the web for Key principles of reception theory
Venn Diagram of 3 Learning Styles | Venn Diagram of three di… | Flickr View original
Is this image relevant?
The Rhetorical Situation – Essentials for ENGL-121 View original
Is this image relevant?
What is Hermeneutics? Part B | Love in Truth View original
Is this image relevant?
Venn Diagram of 3 Learning Styles | Venn Diagram of three di… | Flickr View original
Is this image relevant?
The Rhetorical Situation – Essentials for ENGL-121 View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
- Emphasizes active role of reader in interpreting and understanding literary works
- Readers bring own experiences, knowledge, and expectations to reading process (personal background, education level)
- Meaning of text constructed through interaction between text and reader, not fixed or inherent (reader's perspective shapes interpretation)
- Introduces concept of "horizon of expectations"
- Set of cultural, social, and literary norms and conventions shaping reader's understanding and interpretation (genre conventions, )
- Influenced by factors such as reader's own experiences and knowledge (familiarity with author's other works, exposure to similar themes)
- Challenges idea of single, authoritative interpretation of text
- Different readers may interpret same text differently based on individual horizons of expectations (cultural background, personal beliefs)
- Meaning of text can change over time as horizon of expectations shifts (evolving social norms, changing literary trends)
Horizon of expectations concept
- Framework through which reader approaches and interprets text
- Shaped by reader's previous experiences with literature, knowledge of genre conventions, understanding of historical and of text's production (familiarity with author's style, awareness of literary movements)
- Influences how reader perceives and evaluates literary work
- Text conforming to reader's expectations may be more readily accepted and appreciated (traditional love story with happy ending)
- Text challenging or subverting reader's expectations may be met with resistance or require reevaluation of assumptions (experimental novel with nonlinear narrative)
- Interaction between text and reader's horizon of expectations can lead to new interpretations and understandings
- As readers encounter new texts and experiences, horizons of expectations may expand or shift, allowing for new perspectives on previously read works (exposure to diverse voices and styles broadens literary horizons)
Changes in textual reception
- Reception of text can evolve as historical and cultural context in which it is read changes
- As societies and values change, interpretation and valuation of text may also shift (once-controversial work becomes celebrated classic)
- What was once considered controversial or avant-garde may become canonical or mainstream over time (modernist literature gaining acceptance)
- Changes in dominant literary and cultural norms can affect how text is received
- Rise of new literary movements or critical theories can lead to reevaluation of older works (feminist criticism shedding new light on classic texts)
- Shifts in social and political attitudes can influence perception and interpretation of text (changing views on race and gender in literature)
- Reception of text can vary across different cultural contexts
- Readers from different cultural backgrounds may bring different experiences, values, and expectations to interpretation (Eastern vs Western literary traditions)
- Cultural differences can lead to divergent or even conflicting interpretations of same work (varying reactions to religious themes in literature)
Significance of reception theory
- Highlights importance of considering reader's role in creating meaning
- Challenges idea of single, fixed meaning inherent in text itself (multiple valid interpretations possible)
- Emphasizes dynamic nature of literary interpretation and ways meaning is constructed through interaction between text and reader (reader as co-creator of meaning)
- Provides framework for understanding how text's meaning and significance can change over time
- Allows for study of how work's reception is influenced by historical and cultural context in which it is read (changing attitudes towards race, gender, sexuality)
- Highlights ways interpretation and valuation of literature are shaped by broader social and cultural forces (political climate, economic conditions)
- Considering reception of text deepens understanding of its place within larger literary and cultural tradition
- Encourages consideration of how work is situated within network of other texts, readers, and contexts (, literary influence)
- Helps recognize ways literature both reflects and shapes values and concerns of societies in which it is produced and consumed (literature as cultural artifact and agent of change)
Key Terms to Review (15)
Actual reader: The actual reader refers to the real individual who engages with a text, interpreting and deriving meaning based on personal experiences, knowledge, and emotional responses. This concept highlights the significance of reader reception in literature, emphasizing that meaning is not fixed within the text but is instead shaped by the reader's unique context and perspective.
Cultural Context: Cultural context refers to the social, historical, and cultural factors that influence the creation and interpretation of a text. This includes the values, beliefs, norms, and practices of a particular society at a specific time, shaping both the author's intentions and the audience's understanding.
Engagement: Engagement refers to the active involvement and interaction of readers with a text, which can shape their understanding and interpretation of the work. This concept emphasizes that meaning is not solely derived from the text itself, but also from the reader's personal experiences, emotions, and context, highlighting the dynamic relationship between the reader and the text.
Erlebnis: Erlebnis refers to a personal, lived experience that is rich in emotional significance and subjective meaning. It emphasizes the way an individual perceives and internalizes an event, leading to a deeper understanding of self and the world. This concept is crucial in the context of how readers engage with literature, as it highlights the personal impact of literary works on individual emotions and interpretations.
Historical context: Historical context refers to the social, political, cultural, and economic circumstances surrounding a particular time period or event that can influence its interpretation and meaning. Understanding historical context helps in analyzing how literature reflects and responds to the issues and values of its time.
Implied reader: The implied reader refers to the hypothetical audience that a text seems to envision or address. This concept underscores the idea that texts are crafted with a specific type of reader in mind, influencing how the content is interpreted and understood. The implied reader is essential in reception theory, as it highlights how different readers may engage with a text based on their own experiences, backgrounds, and expectations.
Interpretation: Interpretation refers to the process of explaining or making sense of a text, artwork, or cultural artifact, often influenced by individual perspectives and contextual factors. This concept emphasizes that meaning is not fixed; instead, it evolves through the interactions between the audience and the work itself, reflecting personal experiences and societal contexts.
Interpretive communities: Interpretive communities refer to groups of readers who share similar interpretive strategies and backgrounds, influencing how they understand and derive meaning from texts. This concept highlights that interpretation is not solely an individual activity but is shaped by the collective experiences, cultural contexts, and shared values of a group, creating a framework within which texts are read and understood.
Intertextuality: Intertextuality refers to the way that texts (literary or otherwise) are interconnected and how they influence and shape one another through references, quotations, or allusions. This concept highlights that no text exists in isolation, as each piece of writing is part of a larger network of cultural and literary discourse.
Literary canon: The literary canon refers to a collection of works that are considered to be the most important, influential, and representative of a particular literary tradition or period. This collection often shapes what is taught in schools and how literature is perceived by society, reflecting cultural values and norms while sometimes excluding marginalized voices. The canon evolves over time as new works gain recognition and others fade in prominence.
New Historicism: New Historicism is a critical approach that emphasizes the importance of historical context in understanding literary works. It posits that literature cannot be separated from the cultural and historical moments in which it was created, suggesting that texts are products of their time and reflect the ideologies, power structures, and social issues of their era. This approach also looks at how literature influences and shapes historical understanding.
Poststructuralism: Poststructuralism is a philosophical and critical movement that emerged in the mid-20th century, emphasizing the instability of meaning and the complexity of language. It challenges the idea of fixed structures in texts and asserts that meaning is derived from the interplay of multiple interpretations, influenced by context, culture, and reader perception.
Reader-response criticism: Reader-response criticism is a literary theory that emphasizes the role of the reader in creating the meaning of a text. This approach asserts that understanding literature involves not only the author's intentions and textual features but also the reader's individual experiences, emotions, and interpretations. It highlights how each reader's unique perspective influences their comprehension and engagement with a work, linking closely to historical developments in literary theory, methods of close reading, and concepts of interpretation and reception.
Rezeptionsgeschichte: Rezeptionsgeschichte, or reception history, refers to the study of how literary texts are received and interpreted by readers over time. This concept highlights the interaction between a text and its audience, focusing on the various meanings and responses generated throughout different historical contexts. It emphasizes that a work's significance is not only rooted in its original creation but also evolves as it is read and reinterpreted across generations.
Transformative reading: Transformative reading refers to an interpretive process where a reader actively engages with a text, allowing it to reshape their understanding, beliefs, or worldview. This concept emphasizes that reading is not just a passive activity but an active dialogue between the reader and the text, where the experience can lead to significant personal or social change.