A Response-Based Approach to Reading Literature

I like the line "A literary orientation involves "living through the experience."" it is such a true statement. It is more then just literally living the experience but living through the writing. Through reading people get to live multiple lives and different experiences. However, Langer mean the way we interpret the piece. How the way we think about it, and interpret it affects out understanding and changes how we see the work.  Students get this through their own understanding and through the  understanding of their peers. Through discussion students hear ideas that they didn't think of. They may agree with them or they may not. but it challenges their understand it makes them think, understand and support their own interpretations. I like how it also mentions reading science and social studies text and how they have a point of reference which they try to follow. It is to help students attempt to build upon, clarify, or modify "their momentary understandings". Informational texts help students to understand what they are learning, and they may pick up on a piece of information they find interesting, but wasn't lectured on. I like how she states neither of those two literary orientations can work alone. Together they provide alternative ways of making-sense that can be called upon when needed.

I disliked the research that showed literature is sometimes taught, and often tested in a non-literary way. Meaning there is only one interpretation and one right answer. Different people take different meanings from literature. Sometimes what a person takes is totally different then what the author intended, or the author may not even know about.