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

• 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 biographical criticism 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 (Umberto Eco's open work)

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, historical context)
• 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 Death of the Author" 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
• Moderate intentionalism 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)