Ma'am Ayesha Kashif

Bushra Ramzan

70143731

Topic: what are actual reader, applied reader, virtual reader, and narratee?

Introduction:

Reader response theory is a literary criticism approach that focuses on the reader's
response to a text. Rather than looking at what the author intended or the text's objective
meaning, reader-response theory emphasizes the importance of the reader's interpretation and
perception of the text.

Proponents of reader response theory believe that a reader's interpretation is shaped by

their background, experiences, and beliefs. Therefore, every reader can potentially have a unique
understanding or reaction to the same text.

Reader response theory has been criticized for prioritizing the reader's subjective
experience over the text's objective meaning. However, it has influenced literary studies by
bringing attention to the importance of the reader in the interpretation of a text.

The different concepts of actual reader, implied reader, virtual reader, and narratee.

Actual reader:

This is the person who is literally reading and interpreting a text. They bring their own
experiences, beliefs, and knowledge to the reading process, which influences their understanding
of the text.

Implied reader:
 This is the reader that the text seems to be targeting. It is the image of the reader that the
text constructs through its language, tone, and narrative structure. The implied reader is not a real
person, but an idea of how the text expects or hopes that the reader will respond.

Virtual reader:

This is a hypothetical reader that the text discusses or addresses within the narrative. A
virtual reader is often used to convey a specific point of view or to provide a sounding board for
characters to express their thoughts and feelings.

Narratee:

This is the implied listener to whom a narrator is addressing their story. The narratee is
frequently used in literature to establish a sense of intimacy and trust between the narrator and
the reader. The narratee is not necessarily a specific person, but rather an idea of someone the
narrator believes is listening.