Intentional Fallacy & Affective Fallacy | Wimsatt & Beardsley | New Criticism | Literary Theory

Summary

This video explores two key concepts from New Criticism: intentional fallacy and affective fallacy, as introduced by Wimsatt and Beardsley. Intentional fallacy warns against trying to discern an author's intent from their personal life, while affective fallacy argues that a reader's emotional response does not determine a work's literary value. The video emphasizes New Criticism's focus on close reading, where only the text matters, independent of the author's biography or the reader's feelings. The host also explains the concept of an 'autotellic text,' a self-contained, unified literary work.

Takeaways

• 📘 New Criticism is an American literary approach that focuses on close reading of the text, disregarding external factors like the author's background or historical context.
• 🔍 The concept of the 'autotelic text' in New Criticism means that the text is complete and self-sufficient, needing no reference to the author's life or external circumstances.
• ✍️ Intentional Fallacy refers to the mistaken belief that a critic should try to discover the author's intentions behind a work, when the text itself should provide all necessary meaning.
• 📖 The belief that the author's life story or personal background is essential to understanding a text is considered incorrect in the New Criticism framework.
• 🧐 William K. Wimsatt and Monroe C. Beardsley argue that it is impossible to fully understand an author’s true intentions, especially if they are no longer alive.
• 💡 Affective Fallacy describes the error of evaluating a text based on the emotional response it elicits in readers, which can vary based on personal experiences.
• ❌ Emotional reactions do not determine the literary value of a work; just because a work moves readers to tears does not mean it is a great piece of literature.
• 🔗 The feelings and sentiments expressed in a poem should be attributed to the speaker or narrator, not the poet, according to Wimsatt and Beardsley.
• 📚 The core belief of New Criticism is that the text alone is the primary focus for analysis, and both the author's intentions and the reader's emotional responses are irrelevant.
• 😊 The speaker briefly discusses personal reasons for a recent absence from creating content, mentioning recovering from COVID-19, and promises to be more active moving forward.

Q & A

What is the main focus of New Criticism?

New Criticism focuses on the close reading of the text itself, disregarding the author's historical background, life story, or the reader's emotional reactions. The text is viewed as a complete and unified entity.

What do New Critics mean by 'autotellic text'?

The term 'autotellic text' refers to the belief that a literary work is complete and self-contained, meaning the text itself holds all the meaning, without needing external context such as the author's background or reader's reactions.

Who coined the terms 'Intentional Fallacy' and 'Affective Fallacy'?

The terms 'Intentional Fallacy' and 'Affective Fallacy' were coined by American literary critics William K. Wimsatt and Monroe C. Beardsley.

What is the concept of 'Intentional Fallacy'?

'Intentional Fallacy' refers to the mistaken belief that a critic should attempt to uncover the author's intention behind a literary work. Wimsatt and Beardsley argued that the intention, if present, is within the text itself, and examining the author's personal life or intentions is unnecessary.

Why do Wimsatt and Beardsley reject the idea of trying to find the author's intention?

They reject this idea because it's impossible to accurately determine the author's intention, especially if the author is no longer alive. Even if the author is alive, interviews or statements may not reveal their true intention.

What does 'Affective Fallacy' refer to?

'Affective Fallacy' is the mistaken belief that a literary work's value can be determined by the emotional response it evokes in readers. Wimsatt and Beardsley argue that emotions are subjective and influenced by the reader's own experiences, and should not be used to judge the quality of the work.

How do New Critics view the relationship between the text and the author's life?

New Critics believe that a text is independent of the author's life and personal experiences. The meaning of a text should be derived solely from the text itself, without considering the author's biography.

Why is the reader's emotional reaction not important in New Criticism?

According to New Criticism, the reader's emotional reaction is irrelevant because it is influenced by personal experiences, not by the intrinsic value or meaning of the text itself. The text should stand on its own, independent of how it emotionally affects the reader.

How does New Criticism differ from historical or biographical approaches to literature?

New Criticism differs by ignoring the author's historical context, life events, and external factors. In contrast, historical or biographical approaches consider the author's background and the cultural context when interpreting a literary work.

What are the main works by Wimsatt and Beardsley associated with these concepts?

Wimsatt and Beardsley's most important work is 'The Verbal Icon: Studies in the Meaning of Poetry,' which includes essays on 'Intentional Fallacy' and 'Affective Fallacy.'