Reader-centered Approach: Investigating Literary Reading Performance Profile of Students from Non-Literature Study Programme

Abstract

. Reading literary works can be frustrating, especially for non-literature students due to a certain extent. Linguistic features, styles, symbolism, and implicit expression are some predominant factors which cause ambiguity and lead to confusion to the readers. Hence, the readers tend to be more passive as they do not know what to do with the text. This fact is then the primary justification for the lecturers to minimize the demand for literary reading subjects, focusing solely on comprehension rather than appreciation. Thus, the idea of employing a reader-centered approach is aimed at helping the students of the non-literature study program to appreciate the literary works by upholding their participation as the readers of the meaning-making process. The result shows that the students of the non-literature study program can actively appreciate the literary works better. In addition, the students' performance of reading literary works shows that they can understand the literary works through the interaction between the readers and the texts.