Wilhem, Chapter Four

Wilhelm's points of view in this chapter I found to be very interesting as a future teacher of literature. His ideas on the reader as an actor was a great analogy. The reader uses their own voice like an actor to interpret the script or text. Using prior knowledge and their own experiences readers, without knowing it, relate to one or more characters in the story or text they are reading. The essential question of the text is how to gain apathetic readers an appreciation of the literature in class. The main focus in the literature world has been on how a reader interprets, evaluates, and reflects on what they read. However, little focus has been on what readers do beyond simple comprehension of the text. I think that Wilhelm is right on in the respect that simple comprehension is not the answer to gaining students attention and respect in reading. If students are going beyond comprehension and gaining a deeper knowledge in relating to characters and situations in the literature. Readers need to be active readers, this means that they are constantly searching for meaning in the writings. Students who are actively engaged in their reading and applying the reading to their lives are actually learning. "Less proficient and less engaged readers must learn to think differently about the reading act and learn how to participate in the experience of literature and construction of literary meaning. By modeling expert reading strategies these students might have a better chance of success.