In Rosenblatt's view, prior knowledge impacts interpretation and meaning.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Sometimes
• D. Never

Answer: (A)

Prior knowledge shapes how a reader interprets text and derives meaning. In Rosenblatt's reader-response framework, reading is a transaction between a reader and the text, and meaning isn’t fixed in the text alone. Readers bring their own knowledge, experiences, purposes, and feelings to the act of reading, and these resources guide what stands out, what questions are asked, and what counts as evidence or significance within the text. Because of this, prior knowledge consistently influences interpretation and the meanings readers construct, and different readers can legitimately arrive at different understandings from the same passage. For example, someone with scientific training might notice patterns a reader without that background might miss, while a reader with personal experience related to a character’s situation might interpret motives or themes through that lens. Therefore, the statement is true.