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The nature of aesthetic perception in literature : the interaction between text and reader in the process of perceiving literary texts

In this dissertation it is argued that literary theories have traditionally extended abundant
attention on authors and texts, neglecting, with very few exceptions, the impor- tant role
of the READER. To address this imbalance, par- ticular attention will be paid to the view of
Wolfgang Iser, that a literary text can only elicit a response when it is read, and that it is
virtually impossible to describe this response without also analysing the READING PROCESS. I
share this view as it makes logical sense: a literary text remains meaningless, a mere 'paper and
ink' production without the
involvement of the reader. It is also the reader's own com- petence, his sense of aesthetic
perception which enables him to make sense of the, in the literary text embedded message, hence the
title: "The Nature of Aesthetic Perception in Literature. The Interaction between Text and
Reader in the Process of Perceiving Literary Texts." / Afrikaans & Theory of Literature / M.A. (Theory of Literature)

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:umkn-dsp01.int.unisa.ac.za:10500/16481
Date11 1900
CreatorsWilke, Magdalena Friedericke
ContributorsGrabe, R. C.
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeDissertation
Format1 online resource (262 leaves)

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