Critical vs. Uncritical Reading of Fiction

­I began reading this book at the introduction, which is something I admit I never do. I tend to skip over it, but I’m glad I started reading here because there were a few things that got me thinking.

The author starts by saying that as a college instructor he ran into problems teaching fiction. His goal was to show students “how books and poems were structured and how they worked, what values they implied, how they reflected or criticized the culture in which they were produced” (pg. 1).  The problem came when the students were reading fiction not to learn what he hoped to teach, but instead to relate to characters or find a message that fit in with their lives or their own beliefs and ideals.

Read more for fun than for the study of archetypes

He goes on to say that their readings were uncritical and more for enjoyment than understanding.  I can completely understand how this would be the case because I find that we are trained (or is it natural) to read fiction mostly for enjoyment as kids, and once we get to the college level it is a difficult transition to make into the theory-based reading.

He then goes on to describe the way that readers change throughout their lives based on several reasons. I find that readers change the ways they read and appreciate fiction mostly based on formal education. In my opinion, a child reads fiction because it is enjoyable. At least, that is why I read it when I was younger. I loved reading new stories, feeling suspense and excitement or some sort of attachment to the story.  I feel that this type of reading will continue unless it is interrupted by some formal training in critical theory and form. Without knowing what to look for in terms of structure or theory, a reader will continue to read in a way that many might call superficial.

Once that training happens, however, it is difficult to turn it off when reading fiction, and as the reader grows older, he or she will most likely find new connections between the text and life in general, whether it be through a feminist lens or a Marxist or historical one.

Though I'm partial to good ol' Derrida. I mean, look at that hair.

However, I find it hard to believe that a reader will instinctively know how to read critically without being taught how to do so. But honestly, I think that’s ok. I don’t think it is wrong to read solely for pleasure or for making personal connections instead of global ones.

I am interested in reading more of the book to find out how Appleyard sees growth in readers as they transition from child to adult and whether that transition has anything to do with formal education.