Abstract
This paper examines how reader-response theory, which emphasizes the reader’s role in shaping textual meaning, can be applied to tabletop roleplaying games (RPGs). Unlike traditional literary analysis, RPGs create a dynamic form of interactive reading where players actively construct narratives through character decisions and improvisation. By analyzing The Odyssey through the lens of roleplaying, this paper explores how themes of adventure, identity, and morality become fluid and participatory. Additionally, RPGs provide a platform for reinterpreting classic texts, allowing players to inhabit multiple perspectives, negotiate ethical dilemmas, and engage in collaborative storytelling. This study highlights how RPGs blur the boundary between reader and author, offering a model of literary engagement that is both interpretive and experiential.
Presenters
Christopher RondeauStudent, Doctorate of Language and Literature, The University of Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
New Media, Technology and the Arts
KEYWORDS
Reader-Response Theory, Interpretive Literary Analysis, Tabletop Roleplaying Games, Agency
