Reading is one of thing which
can improve and increase knowledge of human or called reader. According to a theory of Fish about reader
respond (page 71), ordinarily, one would begin by asking "what does this
sentence mean?" or "what is it about?" or "what is it
saying?”. It means that before read all of the text, usually the reader will
have many question on their mind about the text, and all of the question can be
answered if the reader can understand deeply about the text, not only in general
but also well-known the theme, setting, characterization, symbolism etc that
using in literary work that they are reading. In reading, Schoenbanch,
Greenleaf, Cziko and Hurwitz (1999:38) explain that our reading apprenticeship
approach is different because our understanding of the nature of reading is
different. It means that knowledge will very influence how the reader
understands deeply and well-known all of the elements in literary work. It means that although the reader read the same
literary work, it still creates the differentiation in opinion, between the
first reader, with second reader and another reader.
A
theory of reader respond is also explained by Iser which focus to reading
process or how the reader can understand deeply about the text especially
literary work that they are reading or they have read. According to Iser theory
(1972:1), in considering a literary work, one must take into account not only the
actual text but also, and in equal measure, the actions involved in responding
to that text. It means that responding to the text is one of important thing to
understand deeply about the text itself. The most important think in Iser view,
when the reader read a literary work, the reader can be explore their
understanding with making an outline.
“Texts not only draw the reader into the
action, but also lead him to shade in the many
outlines suggested by the given situations, so that these take on a reality of their own. But as the reader's
imagination animates these ‘outlines,’ they in turn will influence
the effect of the written part of the text (1972:1)”.
Beside can makes an outline as a sign that the reader
understand deeply about the text that they have read, another thing that have
to do by the reader in reading process base on Iser theory is do an analysis.
In Iser’s view, he contends that the “starting point for a phenomenological
analysis is the study of the “way in which sequent sentences act upon one
other”. Analysis means that the reader can be dividing what the theme is of the
literary work, how the plot is, how the character is/are etc. To analysis itself for sure the reader has to
understand every sentence deeply, like Iser explain that sentences are
‘component parts’ insofar as they make statements, claims, or observations, or
convey information, and so establish various perspectives in the text (1972:2)
In
reading literary work, there are some elements that have to understand by the
reader like the usage of symbolism. In Abrams’s view (1999:311),
“Symbol is anything which
signifies something, in this sense all words are symbols. In discussing literature, however,
the term "symbol" is applied only to a word or phrase that signifies an object or event which in its turn
signifies something, or has a range
of reference, beyond itself”.
It
means that symbolism is a sign which given in form of word to make its literary
work more interesting and creative. The same opinion about symbol explained by
fadaee (2010:2),
which said that “Symbol is a communication element intended tp simply represent
or stand for complex of person, object, group, or idea”.
Almost
all of literary work using symbol, one of literary work which using symbol. One
of literary work that using symbol is “hill
likes white elephant”, a short story which created by Hemingway. In this
short story which talks about a girl and a boy who confusing of their problem,
Hemingway using many symbolism that will make the reader not understand about
the story if the reader do not enter to the story itself. Iser argues (1972)
“The “author of the text may, of
course, exert plenty of influence on the
reader's imagination
– he has the whole panoply of narrative techniques
at his disposal” (282), but
he needs the reader to complete the process “for it is only by activating the reader's
imagination that the author can hope to involve him and so realize the intentionsof
his text”
It
means that in reading process, not only engage the author as the writer but
also engage human as the reader.
In
“hill likes with elephant” as the
title short story itself, Hemingway using symbol that will make the reader not
understand if the reader cannot enter in the story. Like a quote in that short
story,
“They
look like white elephants,” (Hemingway:1927:1)
Maybe,
the reader guessing that it is truly white elephant. But in the fact, the word
of “hill” is the symbol that a girl
named Jig is pregnant,
and “white elephant” itself is symbolize of white
elephant in Buddha which reputed a holy one like her pregnant which holy also. It means that the reader not only have to understand
about the story but also understand deeply about literary work which always
using symbol, for sure the reader has to understand symbolism itself.
Reading
process not only influence to understanding the text or the story but also will influence reader’s knowledge. Iser explain (1972:5),
“we can only picture things which are not
there; the written part the text gives us the
knowledge, but it is the unwritten
part that gives us the opportunity to picture things; indeed without the elements indeterminacy, the gaps in the text, we should not be able to use our imagination”
It means that through the text the writer give
knowledge which is sometimes unrealized by the reader. When reading a text, the
reader also has to choose what kind of text that base on their knowledge to
make the purpose of the author can be understood by the reader. It explained
also by Iser (1972:4) that the “‘reality’ of the reading experience can illuminate
basic patterns of real experience”.
Another
symbolism that used by Hemingway in his short story (hill likes with elephant) found in the way Hemingway using
setting. According to Abrams (1999:284)
“The overall setting of a narrative or dramatic work is
the general locale, historical time,
and social circumstances in which its action occurs; the setting of a single episode or scene within such a work
is the particular physical location in which it takes place.”
It
means that setting is part of plot or context of story that will explain or
describe the place, time, etc which will has a connection with the character.
Symbolism that using setting in “hill
likes with elephant” is like
“The hills across the
valley of the Ebro were long and white. On this side there was no
shade and no trees and the station was between two lines of rails in the sun. Close against the side of
the station there was the warm shadow of the building
and a curtain, made of strings of bamboo beads, hung across the open door
into the bar, to keep out flies. The
American and the girl with him sat at a table
in the shade, outside the building.” (Hemingway:1927:1)
In reading process, the reader will
understand that when the author using setting, it used not only for describe
the situation but also sometimes has a symbol. In the text above as the early
paragraph of the story, Hemingway want to show that the girl and her boyfriend
is in between, it means that they haven’t another choice except next or go
back. It showed by Hemingway with using rail way of train which is cannot go
far away except next or go back. Without
the understanding of reading process, the reader maybe just skip that
text without realize that Hemingway as the author using that words not only to
advocate the context but also as a symbol.
Another
thing that have to do by the reader is explain what the reader get after
reading. In Iser theory (1972:8), this is what “causes the reader to be entangled in the
text ‘gestalt’ that he himself has produced. Through this entanglement the
reader is bound to open himself up to the workings of the text, and so leave
behind his own preconceptions”. It means that the good reader not only can
makes outline, imagine, enter to the story, or understand deeply with the using
of symbol and another element of literary work but also can explain again what
they get or what they understand as the result of their reading.
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