A responders context has significant influence upon what ideas and meanings they will discover from within a text. Someone that values religion, or has an understanding of psychoanalysis, will focus upon the elements of a text which emphasise these ideas. It is more likely, however, that a responder considers and interprets the dominant reading of a text, which is quite frequently, but not always, a thematic reading.

Although each responders context can differ, a text can always hold meaning for those responding, no matter what their context is. These meanings will differ with context, yet a text will still hold some valued meaning.

This can be identified through study of Gwen Harwood's poems, "Father and Child", and "At Mornington", as it can be seen within...