Reader Response

Literary Criticism

The Canterbury Tales

Reader Response is a form of literary criticism where readers react in writing to subject matter prior to detailed discussion and analysis. The reader’s thoughts, reactions, emotions, etc. are valid sources for observation and reflection, and reader response as a movement argues for the validity of each individual reader’s experience with a given text.

Considerations:

· Avoid overt summation

· Expression of the effectiveness or lack thereof of a given text is perfectly acceptable; keep in mind that such assertions must be followed by textual examples

· Based on limited length requirement, you must get to observations/assertions quickly

· The expectation is that specific examples of diction (words, phrases, etc.) will be examined/used as textual proof of reader’s observations/assertions

· Each journal specific to assigned text (see below)

Nuts and Bolts:

· One-page response

· Double Spaced

· Typed

· A minimum of two direct source uses in journal

· Be prepared on due dates to share your content with peers and class as a whole

Journal Due Dates:

Tale: ____________________ Due Date: __________

Tale: ____________________ Due Date: __________

Tale: ____________________ Due Date: __________

Tale: ____________________ Due Date: __________

Tale: ____________________ Due Date: __________

Tale: ____________________ Due Date: __________

Tale: ____________________ Due Date: __________

Reminder: Journals should be exercises in mini-essays, in that you should take the opportunity to analyze and flesh out specific content that may grow into a paper down the road . . . at least that’s what Chaucer told me to say . . .