1.2 Intentional fallacy
5 min read•august 20, 2024
Intentional fallacy challenges the idea that an author's intended meaning should guide literary interpretation. It argues that a text's meaning comes from the work itself, not external sources like author statements or biographies. This concept emphasizes the reader's role in constructing meaning.
Originating from Wimsatt and Beardsley's 1946 essay, intentional fallacy became a cornerstone of New Criticism. It shifted focus to close reading and textual analysis, paving the way for reader-response theories and poststructuralist approaches to literature.
Defining intentional fallacy
- Intentional fallacy is a concept in literary criticism that argues against using an author's intended meaning to interpret or evaluate a work of literature
- Asserts that the meaning of a text should be derived from the text itself, not from external sources such as the author's biography, statements, or perceived intentions
- Emphasizes the autonomy of the literary work and the role of the reader in constructing meaning (New Criticism)
Origins of intentional fallacy
Wimsatt and Beardsley's essay
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- The term "intentional fallacy" was coined by William K. Wimsatt and Monroe C. Beardsley in their 1946 essay "The Intentional Fallacy"
- Argued that the design or intention of the author is neither available nor desirable as a standard for judging the success of a work of literary art
- Challenged the prevailing that relied heavily on authorial intent and background to interpret texts
- Laid the groundwork for New Criticism, which focused on close reading and textual analysis
Key arguments against intentional fallacy
Text vs author's intention
- The text itself should be the primary source of meaning, not the author's intended message or purpose
- Once a work is published, it stands on its own and should be interpreted independently of the author's intentions (Wimsatt and Beardsley)
- The author's intention is ultimately unknowable and irrelevant to the reader's experience and understanding of the text
Reader's interpretation vs author's meaning
- Each reader brings their own context, knowledge, and perspective to a text, leading to multiple valid interpretations
- The reader's response and construction of meaning are more important than the author's intended meaning
- The text is an open-ended entity that allows for diverse readings and interpretations ('s )
Implications for literary criticism
New Criticism and close reading
- Intentional fallacy is a cornerstone of New Criticism, which emphasizes close reading and textual analysis
- New Critics argue that the text itself contains all the necessary elements for interpretation, without relying on external factors (author's biography, )
- Close reading involves examining the text's formal elements, such as structure, language, and imagery, to uncover meaning
Death of the Author concept
- Roland Barthes' 1967 essay "The " extends the ideas of intentional fallacy
- Argues that the author's identity and intentions are irrelevant to the interpretation of a text
- Once a text is created, it takes on a life of its own, and the reader becomes the primary source of meaning (birth of the reader)
Defenses of authorial intent
Moderate intentionalism
- Some critics argue that while the text is the primary source of meaning, the author's intentions can still provide valuable context
- seeks a balance between textual analysis and considering the author's intentions when they are clear and relevant
- Authorial intent can help resolve ambiguities or provide insight into the text's historical and cultural context
Extreme intentionalism
- A minority view that holds the author's intentions as the ultimate determinant of a text's meaning
- Argues that the goal of interpretation should be to uncover what the author meant to convey
- Criticized for ignoring the text's autonomy and the reader's role in constructing meaning
Reconciling author and reader
Umberto Eco's open work
- Umberto Eco's concept of the "open work" suggests that literary texts are inherently open to multiple interpretations
- The author creates a work with a range of potential meanings, which are actualized through the reader's interaction with the text
- The open work allows for a dialectic between the author's intentions and the reader's interpretations
Dialectic between intention and interpretation
- Some critics propose a middle ground that acknowledges both the author's intentions and the reader's interpretations
- The meaning of a text emerges from the interplay between the author's design and the reader's response
- This approach recognizes the value of authorial context while still emphasizing the text's autonomy and the reader's role
Intentional fallacy in practice
Analyzing poetry and prose
- When applying intentional fallacy to poetry and prose, the focus is on the text itself rather than the author's biography or stated intentions
- Close reading techniques are used to examine the work's formal elements (structure, language, imagery) and uncover meaning
- Examples: T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land" can be interpreted through its fragmented structure and allusions, regardless of Eliot's personal intentions
Applying to other art forms
- The concept of intentional fallacy has been applied to other art forms, such as painting, sculpture, and film
- In visual arts, the artwork itself is the primary source of meaning, rather than the artist's intentions or explanations
- Example: Abstract expressionist paintings (Jackson Pollock) are often interpreted based on the viewer's response to the visual elements, rather than the artist's intended message
Ongoing debates and controversies
Poststructuralism and deconstruction
- Poststructuralist theories, such as deconstruction (Jacques Derrida), further challenge the idea of stable meaning and authorial intent
- Deconstruction emphasizes the inherent instability of language and the endless deferral of meaning
- Poststructuralists argue that the author's intentions are ultimately unknowable and that texts contain multiple, often contradictory meanings
Validity of biographical criticism
- Despite the influence of intentional fallacy and New Criticism, some scholars still defend the value of biographical criticism
- They argue that understanding an author's life, context, and intentions can enrich the interpretation of a text
- Example: Knowing about Virginia Woolf's struggles with mental illness can provide insight into themes of isolation and inner turmoil in her novels (Mrs. Dalloway)
Key Terms to Review (10)
Authorial intention: Authorial intention refers to the purpose and meaning that an author aims to convey through their work. This concept suggests that understanding an author’s thoughts, feelings, and intentions can enhance the interpretation of their text. While it plays a role in literary analysis, it is often debated whether an author's intentions should be prioritized over the text itself, leading to discussions about the intentional fallacy and how meaning is constructed in literature.
Biographical Criticism: Biographical criticism is a literary approach that interprets a text by examining the life and experiences of its author. This method highlights how an author's background, personal history, and social context influence their writing and the themes present in their works. By understanding the author’s life, critics believe they can uncover deeper meanings and motivations behind the text, making it a valuable lens for literary analysis.
Death of the author: The 'death of the author' is a concept that suggests the creator of a text should not dictate its meaning or interpretation. Instead, the focus should shift to the reader's experience and understanding, emphasizing that texts can hold multiple meanings independent of the author's intentions. This idea challenges traditional literary criticism, which often centers around the author's background, intentions, and biography.
Extreme Intentionalism: Extreme intentionalism is a critical approach that asserts the author's intentions and meanings should be prioritized in the interpretation of a text. This perspective posits that understanding the author's purpose can unlock the true meaning of their work, suggesting that everything in a text can be traced back to the author's original goals and context, often downplaying reader response or other interpretive frameworks.
Historical Context: Historical context refers to the social, political, cultural, and economic conditions that surround a specific event or piece of literature at the time it was created. Understanding historical context is crucial because it helps to illuminate how the time period influenced the work's themes, characters, and motivations.
Literal vs. Interpretive Meaning: Literal meaning refers to the explicit, straightforward understanding of a text's words, without any embellishment or added significance. Interpretive meaning goes beyond the surface to explore deeper implications, themes, and symbolic meanings that might be inferred from the text. Understanding the difference between these two kinds of meaning is essential, especially when considering how an author's intentions can shape our interpretations of their work.
Moderate Intentionalism: Moderate intentionalism is a literary theory that emphasizes the author's intentions in creating a text while still acknowledging the limitations and interpretations that readers bring to the work. This approach suggests that while an author’s purpose and context can enhance our understanding of a text, it does not dictate its meaning, as the interpretation can shift based on different perspectives. This nuanced view allows for a balance between the author’s intent and the autonomy of the text itself.
Open Work: Open work refers to a type of literary or artistic creation that is intentionally left incomplete or ambiguous, inviting multiple interpretations from the audience. This concept emphasizes the active role of the reader or viewer in constructing meaning, suggesting that a work does not have a single, definitive interpretation. The idea of open work encourages engagement and interaction with the text or art, allowing personal experiences and perspectives to shape understanding.
Text vs. author: The concept of text vs. author refers to the distinction between the literary work itself (the text) and the intentions, background, and biography of the person who created it (the author). This separation is crucial in literary criticism, as it emphasizes that once a text is published, its meaning can exist independently from its creator, allowing readers to interpret it based on their own experiences and perspectives without being confined to the author's intent.
Umberto Eco: Umberto Eco was an influential Italian philosopher, novelist, and literary critic known for his work on semiotics and the interpretation of texts. His theories challenge traditional views on the role of the author and the meaning of texts, particularly highlighting how readers engage with literature. Eco’s ideas about meaning-making connect closely to the intentional fallacy, the concept of the implied reader, and the notion of simulacrum, showcasing how interpretations are shaped by both authorial intent and reader interaction.