Drăgușin Samira-Eleana

Drăgușin Samira-Eleana
Filologie: Engleză -Franceză.

10.04.2023
Seria:II-a, grupa 7; Anul I
Literature in the reader
The Affective Stylistics
Good afternoon, today I would like to introduce you to the work of Stanley Fish and his
article „Literature in the Reader”, but before that, does anyone know what „Affective
Stylistics” means ?
Well neither did I at first !
Affective Stylistics : „Affective stylistics is derived from analyzing further the notion that a literary
text is an event that occurs in time—that comes into being as it is read—rather than an object that
exists in space”
(literariness.orghttps://literariness.org/2016/11/15/affective-stylistics/ , 06.04.2023 -18:45)
 Affective Stylistics and Texts:

Affective stylistics involves analyzing a literary text as an event that unfolds in time as it is
read, rather than an object in space, in order to understand how its stylistic elements affect the
reader. While the approach involves a close examination of the text itself, some theorists
consider it transactional because it focuses on the reader’s response to the text rather than the
text as an objective entity. Practitioners of affective stylistics do not see the text as having a
fixed meaning independent of readers, as the text’s meaning is produced by the reader’s
response to it. Stanley Fish, one of the foremost proponents of this approach, analyzes the
structure of the reader’s response to a text as it occurs, rather than the structure of the text
itself. Affective stylistics is not concerned with impressionistic responses but rather a
cognitive analysis of the mental processes produced by specific elements in the text. The
approach is known for its meticulous and detailed analysis of how the text structures the
reader’s response phrase by phrase. „I am readying” there by acknowledge the fact that
reading is an activity, something you do! No one can argue the act of readying can take place
in the absence of someone who is reading!
 Reader response criticism, Values implicit în Affective Stylistics:
„Many could argue the „meaning”. Fish redefines meaning as an event (instead of information
content) in order to place a greater importance on that event, to give it a new significance by
bestowing on it a higher priority of interest ( a value). That is, Fish takes an evaluative term
with the highest positive connotation and places it approvingly on the experience of the reader
in interacting with the text : meaning is significant; the reading experience is meaning;
therefore, the reading experience is significant. An evaluative process is implicit at the very
inception of the method.”
(http://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1020&context=engl_fac ,
06.04.2023; pg.330)
 But how can you tell the „dance from the dancer” ?
In the literally world the phrase „dance from the dancer” is often used to describe the
challenge of distinguishing between an artwork and its creator. In other words, it can be
difficult to separate the personal experiences, beliefs, and biases of the artist from the work
they create.
In the context of literary criticism, this can mean that it is challenging to analyze a text
without taking into account the author’s life, beliefs, and cultural context. However, one way
to approach this challenge is to use a phenomenological approach, as Poulet suggests.
 The author and his work ?

Rather than trying to completely separate the author from their work, a phenomenological
approach focuses on the ways in which the author’s consciousness and self-discovery are
expressed through their writing. This means that the text is seen as a manifestation of the
author’s subjective experience, rather than a completely objective representation of the world.
 Stylistics :”Stylistics is the study of style in language. It is concerned with how language is
used to convey meaning beyond the literal interpretation of words. Stylistics looks at the
various linguistic and literary techniques that are used in language to create different effects
and convey different meanings. These techniques can include things like the use of metaphor,
simile, personification, alliteration, assonance, and many other devices”
(https://www.proquest.com/docview/1807059827, 06.04.2023 )
By examining the language, themes, and imagery in the text, a critic can gain insights into the
author’s consciousness and the way in which they have constructed themselves as the subject
of their own thoughts. This can help to illuminate the ways in which the author’s personal
experiences and cultural context have shaped the text.
At the same time, it is important to recognize that the text is also a product of its own unique
context, and that it may be interpreted differently by different readers. Therefore, while it is
important to consider the author’s consciousness in analyzing the text, it is also important to
consider the ways in which the text interacts with and is interpreted by the broader cultural
and historical context in which it was created
Riding we encounter, it is always an expression of the author’s consciousness and self-
discovery. For Poulet, literature and philosophy are intertwined, as they both stem from the
fundamental human experience of being a thinking subject.
Poulet emphasizes the importance of the „other” in the process of self-discovery and critical
consciousness. It is through encountering the perspectives and ideas of others that we are able
to expand our own understanding and refine our own thoughts. Literature, then, becomes a
means of communication and connection between individuals, as authors offer their own
unique perspectives and readers are able to engage with and respond to those perspectives.
Furthermore, Poulet sees writing as a way for authors to explore and express their own inner
experiences and thoughts.” Writing is not simply a matter of recording one’s thoughts on paper, but
rather a process of constructing oneself as the subject of those thoughts” . Through writing, authors
are able to articulate and give form to their inner experiences, bringing them into the realm of
shared language and communication.
Overall, Poulet’s phenomenological approach to literary criticism emphasizes the role of
consciousness, self-discovery, and communication in the creation and interpretation of literary
works
( Contemporary Critical Theories. A Reader, 3.2 PHENOMENOLOGICAL CRITICISM,
115)
In conclusion, the study of literature in the reader through the lens of affective stylistics
provides a fascinating insight into the ways in which readers engage with literary texts. By
focusing on the emotional and affective responses of readers, this approach allows us to gain a
deeper understanding of the role that literature plays in our lives. Through affective stylistics,
we can explore the ways in which literary texts can evoke powerful emotions and shape our
perceptions of the world around us. We can also gain insight into the ways in which readers
bring their own experiences, backgrounds, and emotions to the act of reading, and how this
shapes their interpretation of the text. Ultimately, the study of literature in the reader through
affective stylistics offers a rich and rewarding approach to the study of literature, one that
deepens our appreciation of the power and importance of literary texts in our lives.
Bibliography :
1. (literariness.orghttps://literariness.org/2016/11/15/affective-stylistics/ , 06.04.2023 -
18:45)
2. (http://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1020&context=engl_fac ,
06.04.2023; pg.330)
3. (https://www.proquest.com/docview/1807059827, 06.04.2023 )
4.( Contemporary Critical Theories. A Reader, 3.2 PHENOMENOLOGICAL
CRITICISM, 115)

Drăgușin Samira-Eleana - Handout - Stanley Fish - Literature in The Reader - Affective Stylistics

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Drăgușin Samira-Eleana - Handout - Stanley Fish - Literature in The Reader - Affective Stylistics

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Drăgușin Samira-Eleana - Handout - Stanley Fish - Literature in The Reader - Affective Stylistics

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Filologie: Engleză -Franceză.

(literariness.orghttps://literariness.org/2016/11/15/affective-stylistics/ , 06.04.2023 -18:45)

 Affective Stylistics and Texts:

 The author and his work ?

You might also like