Approaches to Reading Text with Examples from Jane Austens Emma Essay

This paper presents the two of the four main reading approaches toreading a text. In this paper, Jane Austens novel Emma will be usedto demonstrate these approaches providing a detailed description intoboth reading practice, including reader-centred and author-centred. Asit is now widely acknowledged that no text is neutral, these practicesare angiotensin-converting enzyme way of conceptualising changes in the theories and practicesof literary study that have occurred during the twentieth century.Each approach is characterised by particular assumptions and valuesand consequently places greater or lesser emphasis on the interactionsthat occur between both the author and the reader as we read. Tojustify these approaches, I have in any case used defenses.Reader-Centred ApproachSince its release in the early years of the nineteenth century, thenovel Emma has never ceased to impress and intrigue. While beingcriticised for its lack of action and development, the novel, I found,provides the reader with a remarkably accurate and surprisinglyhilarious portrayal of life in the upper middle class during theVictorian period. With the ability to one minute have me ready to pullout my hair and the next be in hysterics as Jane Austen repeatedlypokes fun at the characters and their unanticipated antics andimperfections, this daybook is a work of art. Events are miscalculated,actions are misinterpreted and emotions are toiled with, but as withmany of Janes novels, a neatly tied (even teary) ending is producedand all that should constitute happily ever after do. In the end, what I hadpresumed to be both dull and strenuous turned out quite the opposite,and my immense appreciation for the novel, as you will no-doubtdiscover, clearly dem... ... glossary. Chalkface Press Cottesloe, Western Australia.* Queensland Studies Authority, (QSA). (2002). English Extension Reading Approaches, QSA, Queensland.* Ricoeur, Paul (1991). From Text to Action, Essays in hermeneutics 2. Kathl een Blamey and John B Thompson, trans. Northwestern University Press Evanston, Illinois.* Robina adduce High School-Senior English Extension (Literature). (draft syllabus, 5.3.2).* Rosenblatt, Louise (1968). Literature as Exploration, revised edition. Nobel and Nobel New York.* Thomson, J. (1992). Reconstructing Literature Teaching. Australian Association for the Teaching of English.Websites* (1) Fitzgerald, C. http//www.readinggroupguides.com/guides3/emma2.asp.* (2) Jalic, L, 2000-2004. www.online-literature.com/austen/emma/* (3) Wilber, A. www.amazon.com