Wilhelm Chapter 4

Chapter 4
Using Drama to Extend the Reader

“Reading literature is not the reception of meaning, but the reader’s participation in a “transaction” with text that produces meaning” (88). Welhelm states that his less engaged readers cannot understand this concept, and this is what I will have to deal with in my future. Using drama as a method to engage students to enter the text is an excellent idea. Having a reader/text relationship is the aim of using drama in the classroom and Wilhelm provides examples and exercises to engage readers. Using drama as a way to bring in students “background experiences, schema knowledge, interests, desires, and questions to bear in the reading act” (91), can actually allow for the student to relate to the text and hopefully in future.


This chapter really taught me a lot about less proficient readers and what it is like for them. I really appreciate this because this is something I have not experienced. Using Kevin, Marvin, and Libby as examples really showed the importance of being energetic and passionate about literature. The dramatic activities that Wilhelm provides on pages 100-101 really are great to get students to understand stories. I think that the Epilogue really sums up the importance of meaning making of literature through the use of drama.