While in school, I learned how to read, but I was not educated on how context has different interpretations depending upon the reader. The reader has the option to decide the true meaning of the context, and what it means to the individual reader. After reading Manguel's essay, “Reading Ourselves and the World Around Us” I understood the connections between individual experiences and individual perceptions. Rick Moody, an American author, directs an essay concluding there is no “right” or “wrong” way to read a text. After Reading Moody’s essay, “The Joy and Enthusiasm of Reading” I strongly believe with Moody, there is no “right” or “wrong” way to read, and there will never an authority how can tell you how to interpret (Moody 4). From reading these essays, I have decided on the notion that I agree and I disagree with Moody’s opinion; I agree with the idea that conclusions should be left for the reader however, I disagree with Moody’s view that there is no wrong way to read when it comes to literal texts. …show more content…
Firstly, Moody discusses his current fascination with complex readings and the influential roles that led him to his view’s on reading.
Moody discusses his teacher Mr. Buxton, personally coming over to his house to tutor him at night (Moody 3). Rick Moody involves his 11th grade teacher Mr. Flanders, whom he said was the one who influenced him to get involved in the Gospels (Moody 4). Moody involves his personal life and attachs the idea that each individual reacts and thinks on their own, meaning not everyone has the same mindset. Moody involves his personal life in chronological order to give a better understanding on how age and knowledge provide a huge factor in his understanding of reading. He is explaining that through reading and writing it can help us even learn more about ourselves. As we grow ourselves, what we read and write grows with
us. Furthermore, Rick Moody is correct, there is no right or wrong way to read or interpret a writing. Moody specifically says, “I believe there is not now and never will be an authority who can tell me how to interpret, how to read how to find the pearl of literary meaning in all cases” (Moody 4). I passionately believe with Moody that it is up to the reader to obtain the meaning of all things in all cases of literature. I think that it also has to do with personalities and lifestyles of the person whom is reading. We can read things at different points in our lives and at each time we can connect them with a different meaning. For example when I was little I used to love the song “Whistle” by Flo Rida; after growing up and realizing the song is about sex, I have changed my mind about the context. Before realizing the true content of this explicit song, I connected my own meaning to the song, based on my knowledge at the time, now that I am older it is different. Authors leave out information to allow the readers to engage themselves in the reading, allowing the reader to be involved in the passages and create a meaning for themselves. All in all, Moody elaborates on the idea by saying each of us hold the power and freedom to answer and create the meanings of authors writings. We have the power and the imagination to explore the meaning that context provides to our lives. “We all read ourselves and the world around us in order to glimpse what we are and where we are” (Manguel 7). How individuals live affect the way they establish their connections to life. Moody is adamant that no one or no thing can control an individuals connections to writings. In conclusion Rick Moody, an American author, unveils his opinions on the proper way to read. Moody describes his development of readings that has affected him to this day. He talks about certain teachers whom taught him differently, and how over age he perceived and connected the meanings of content differently. Moody is persistent that there is no “right” or “wrong” ways to read context, and there is no one who can tell a reader that they are reading “wrong”. I agree with Moody for reasons being that one can take their enthusiasm for reading and involve it in their personal life, the idea that in reading in writing there is no wrong way, and that we are our own interpreters of meanings of texts and that gives us the power. Though Alberto Manguel’s “Reading Ourselves and the World Around Us” describes a different idea about the progression of knowledge and the higher level reading opportunities. After reading Alberto Manguel’s essay I found it relevant to Moody’s writing when he talked about the idea that, “We all read ourselves and the world around us in order to glimpse what we are and where we are.” I think that it is relatable to Moody’s because it elaborates on the idea that each individual perceives their own meaning .
Some works show their true colors right away. Gene Edward Veith’s book, Reading Between The Lines, addresses philosophical ideas, literary sub genres, and reader criticisms in order to ascertain a Christian’s role in literature. He also goes through various historical periods and examines their more prominent works and schools of thought. While a select few of his conclusions about Christianity in relation to the arts have merit, others contain more damaging implications. Specifically, his statements regarding television represent inaccurate and offensive thinking.
In his article “Sacred Rite or Civil Right?” Howard Moody tackles the controversial issue of the definition of marriage and inclusion of same-sex marriage into that definition. The real issue that takes center stage is the not so clear separation between the church and the state. Moody, an ordained Baptist minister, shares his belief that it’s only a matter of time that civil law is once again redefined and homosexual marriage is recognized just as much as heterosexual marriage. The gay marriage debate he suggests isn’t focused on the relationship between such couples and is more about how to define such unions as a “marriage”. (353)
He too quickly dismisses the idea of reading on your own to find meaning and think critically about a book. For him, Graff states that “It was through exposure to such critical reading and discussion over a period of time that I came to catch the literary bug.” (26) While this may have worked for Graff, not all students will “experience a personal reaction” (27) through the use of critical discussion.
In today 's society, how do we describe someone as "a good person". The judgment falls to other people and how they compare or contrast themselves to the person, who falls under questioning morality. Another problem can lie within the imperfections of the normal human and the few that see through and fix their problem can only improve. Here we will analyze and reflect the comparison between the author Wes Moore’s life pictured within his story of The Other Wes Moore, where Wes categorized his differences between his doppelganger, the Wes Moore in prison for a life sentence, and my life. Each step in the book concludes the beginning of early childhood to early adulthood stopping at the present of the book’s conclusion. Still, we are left questioning the perfection of “good” things in the author’s life, through his schooling, sports, neighborhood and household influences, and opportunities.
Haas and Flower created an interesting point when I read “Rhetorical Reading Strategies and the Construction of Meaning “. In the reading, Haas and Flower, provided multiple propositions to apply, however a key one certainly caught my eye. Haas and Flower proposed various arguments, yet their main idea implied that there needs to be an increase in rhetorical reading. I came to the conclusion that increasing rhetorical reading was their main point due to a statement in the text. “We would like to help extend this constructive, rhetorical view of reading, which we share with others in the field…” [Haas and Flower, 167] the following statement blandly states their intention to spread an important strategy, reading rhetorically, among community.
In the novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston describes the horizon as possibilities and opportunities. When the story starts out Janie’s perception of the horizon changes first from desire for love to the need of love, and ultimately the feeling of contentment towards love to show Janie maturing throughout the novel.
To quote Ben Jonson,” Weigh the meaning and look not at the words” to put this simply he means do not merely look at what is written literally because often what one is reading is only half of what the author has written. Some authors compose their works, giving the world a thrilling or informative story on the surface, but in actuality their real purpose in writing them is the hidden meanings within or underneath the stories which only those who are truly paying attention will notice and understand. Zone off for just a second and whole world could be missed. Cousteau’s work “How to Swim with Sharks: A Primer” may seem to the inexperienced or uninterested reader an ordinary guide to swimming with sharks, but any who delve deeper will notice
When reading someone else's work you need to be certain that you read between the lines. Author's, at times, will attempt to distort information in order to make their beliefs more prominent. In order to avoid this disinformation, you have to learn the difference between denotations and connotations and facts from opinions. Furthermore, you'll have to recognize figurative language, such as similes and metaphors, which can incite specific feelings onto readers.
reader creates “supplementary meaning” to the text by unconsciously setting up tension, also called binary opposition. Culler describes this process in his statement “The process of thematic interpretation requires us to move from facts towards values, so we can develop each thematic complex, retaining the opposition between them” (294). Though supplementary meaning created within the text can take many forms, within V...
"Any critical reading of a text will be strengthened by a knowledge of how a text is valued by readers in differing contexts."
Richard was so eager to learn that he kept constantly asking questions, and if his questions were left unanswered he would let his imagination take over.. He would try to find work in which he would be able to read some of the books. His family and relatives refused to let him learn. There is one incident in which his schoolteacher read to him. His grandmother got angry and said that reading was devils work. Through out his childhood he heard many terms and phrases. He never understood what they meant but once they were said he knew if they were good or bad. For example, when Richard was taking a bath and his grandmother came in to scrub his backside, Richard replied with, "When you get through, kiss back there." This is just one of the many phrases he said in which he did not know the meaning. Through his eagerness to learn he began to understand himself, other blacks, and whites better. He continues to learn and to play dumb for his own survival. His self education began when a co-worker lent Richard his library card to read Mencken's essays. He feels that his dreams and his stories in which he reads are an escape for him. He wants to fit in with others and be able to be apart of America.
In the story, My Father’s Life, by Raymond Carver I learned Raymond Jr. shares many traits with his father. They both are alcoholics who can’t seem to settle anywhere they go. They both also share the name Raymond; Yet I don’t think Raymond Jr. likes it. Raymond Jr. also had a rocky relationship with his father. His father was always too involved with the struggles of life or too drunk to actually build a relationship with Raymond Jr. Despite all that is against him I believe Raymond Jr. wanted to connect with his father anyway he could.
There were many concepts that I learned during this course and there are a few of them that I have integrated into my study habits each time I read a passage. The first one is authorial intent, and according to Duvall & Hays (2012), it is when the author stresses the determination of the meaning of the text (p. 193). The reader must research for what the author is saying a remove their own interpretation. This compels me to forget what I have learned in the past and read with a fresh open mind
The link between the text and the context cannot be ignored and is so fundamental that even when the words in question appear in isolation, the interpreter has to first hypothesize the context in which the words were borrowed from. Selecting a hypothetical context reveals the meaning of the words; similarly changing the context of the words would also alternate the meaning of the text (McGreal 2005; page 1268). Every text-context pairing bears different meaning. The constitutional argument behind Textualism drives a wedge between the text and the context.
Yagelski, Robert P, ed. Reading Our World: Conversations in Context. 2nd ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2010. N. pag. Print.