Reader-response theory [definition, explanation]

Reader-response theory differs from the "standard" view on a literary work in such a way that it changes the way one should look for the intended meaning. Whereas it is often implied that a work of literature conveys a specific message or implication regardless of the reader's reaction to it, Iser argues that - when looking for the actual implication - the focus should be put not on the work itself, but on the reader.
Therefore, such approach conveys the idea that the reader is not just a mere consumer of the text, but rather plays a significant role in it becoming truly complete. According to Iser, reading is more than just familiarizing oneself with the literary work in order to decipher its objective, but instead should be understood as a conscious way of creating the meaning. Although reader-response theory does not deny the existence of the author's indented concept, it encourages attributing the factual meaning to the reader's subjective opinion and interpretation. Such method then allows creating numerous perspectives on and explanations of the same text, thus clarifying the concept of "completing" it - while it might be complete in its physical form, it is the reader's personal interpretation that is the actual, final part of concluding the literary work.