Reader Stance and Literary Understanding: Exploring the Theories, Research and Practice

This book presents background information on the current literary theory known as reader response and examines ways in which response and the teaching of literature has been researched and the findings of that research. It effectively demonstrates the diverse manner in which theoretical principles can be examined using a number of different frameworks. It investigates new theoretical perspectives on reader-response theory as well as demonstrating how empirical, qualitative, and ethnographic research has investigated current theory. Each chapter on research response to literature integrates classroom vignettes and actual student responses, in order to offer the classroom teacher as well as the reading and literature research new information about the manner in which children and older students interact with the literature. This volume will be particularly informative to college personnel and graduate students interested in theories and research focusing on response to literature and the teaching of literature. This text is useful as both a reference for researchers and teachers and a supplemental text for graduate students.

CAROLE COX, D.S.W., is Associate Professor in the School of Social Service at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She is co-author (with A. Monk) of Home Care for the Elderly: An International Perspective (Auburn House, 1991) and has contributed many chapters and articles on gerontology to various books and journals.