Definitions:
Literature- written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit
Monolithic- (of an organization or system) large, powerful, and intractably indivisible and uniform
Subjective criticism- subjective in the sense that an intelligent and full understanding of a work of literature may depend upon the reader having a certain background experience and knowledge. In this theory, the reader’s interpretation of a text is thought to be deeply influenced by personal and psychological needs first, rather than being guided by the text.
Interpretive community- a text does not have meaning outside of a set of cultural assumptions regarding both what the characters mean and how they should be interpreted
Rhetoric- Rhetoric is a technique of using language effectively and persuasively in spoken or written form. It is an art of discourse, which studies and employs various methods to convince, influence or please an audience
Reception aesthetics/ theory- viewer interprets the meanings of the text based on their individual cultural background and life experiences. In essence, the meaning of a text is not inherent within the text itself, but is created within the relationship between the text and the reader
Affective fallacy- is a term from literary criticism used to refer to the supposed error of judging or evaluating a text on the basis of its emotional effects on a reader
Informed reader- who brings prior, shared knowledge to the experience of reading.
Hegemony- effect of social status on reader interpretation
Spatial/ temporal- relates the readings to space and time
Ideal reader- The imaginary audience who would, ideally,