Reader Response Essay: A Simple Explanation

A “reader response†essay is simply a way for you, as a reader, to respond in writing to a specific issue that troubles, fascinates, enlightens, or illuminates something within your chosen text(s). While I will not give specific provocations (or questions) to you about where to concentrate your writing, I hope to offer many questions and issues during the lectures and class discussions. My only designations are that you should write about the material that we have read, viewed, and discussed in Units Five and Six. Thus: Perfume and Frankenstein, our readings from Natural Born Celebrities, and any concepts discussed in the discussion sections or lectures within those areas. Example questions/topics: Compare the motives for killing for Grenouille and Frankenstein's monster? Both use high culture topics of quest, genre, and archetypes to help us understand this idea--how do they use their literary standpoints to affect us? What is the moral purpose behind reading either of the two novels? Why do the films differ in their visual interpretations of the complex novels? Other ideas could be built from any discussion question in the last two unit's work. Specifics: These reader responses should be two-pages in length, double-spaced, with one inch margins, and normal pitch fonts. Longer writing will not garner you a better grade, so use the format to show your precision, focus, and support clearly within the space allowed. The work should be, otherwise in MLA or APA format, with a thesis or argument. Resources: Your will not be required to use any resources to complete these essays, outside of our classroom text, Natural Born Celebrities or the films under consideration. If you choose to use quotations from any text, however, please use the MLA or APA format for citations.

Paper For Above instruction

The reader response essay is an individualized critical writing assignment that invites students to explore their personal reactions to specific literary and cinematic texts. This approach emphasizes emotional, intellectual, and aesthetic responses, encouraging learners to engage deeply with the materials. In this case, students are asked to focus on works from Units Five and Six, specifically "Perfume," "Frankenstein," "Natural Born Celebrities," and related films and discussions. The goal is to produce a concise, well-supported, two-page essay that articulates a clear thesis or argument while reflecting on thematic issues, motifs, and moral questions raised by these texts.

The key to a successful response essay is connecting personal insights with textual analysis. For example, students might compare motives for violence exhibited by Grenouille in "Perfume" and Frankenstein's monster, examining how each character’s quest for identity influences their actions. Such analysis requires understanding how high culture themes—like archetypes of the quest—are employed by authors and filmmakers to shape readers’ perceptions. Understanding these themes helps clarify the moral purposes of these novels: revealing human nature, exploring morality, or questioning societal norms.

Students should consider how the texts’ literary standpoints influence their impact. For example, how does "Perfume" use sensory language and gothic motifs to evoke empathy? How does "Frankenstein" incorporate science fiction and Romanticism to comment on progress and ethics? Furthermore, analyzing differences in visual interpretation—such as film adaptations—can reveal how directorial choices influence audience understanding of complex narratives. These analyses not only deepen comprehension but also foster critical thinking about the relationship between text and media.

Structure-wise, the essay should be two pages long, typed with double spacing, one-inch margins, and a standard font. Clarity and focus are prioritized over length; students are encouraged to express their ideas precisely and support them with quotations when appropriate, following either MLA or APA guidelines. Although external resources are not mandatory, citing the classroom texts and films accurately helps strengthen arguments and demonstrates engagement with the assigned materials.

References

• Levinas, Emmanuel. "Totality and Infinity." Duquesne University Press, 1969.
• Shelley, Mary. "Frankenstein." Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor & Jones, 1818.
• Saunders, Doug. "Natural Born Celebrities." University Press, 2010.
• Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Philosophy of Composition." 1846.
• Sewell, Annette. "Gothic and Romanticism." Johns Hopkins University Press, 1984.
• Bruno, Carlo. "The Gothic: An Illustrated History." Thames & Hudson, 2012.
• Watson, Peter. "The Literary Gothic." Cambridge University Press, 2009.
• Byrne, Gabrielle. "Film and Literature: An Introduction." Routledge, 2017.
• Fitzpatrick, Martin. "The Art of Visual Storytelling." McGraw-Hill, 2015.
• Schneider, Steven. "Understanding Film: Basic Principles." Routledge, 2010.