The Intentional Fallacy (essay)

The Intentional Fallacy is a concept in literary criticism suggesting that a work's meaning should not be judged based on the author's original intentions or personal background. Instead, the focus should be on the text itself—its language, structure, and how it evokes meaning in the reader. This idea encourages readers and critics to interpret a piece independently of what the author intended, emphasizing the work's actual content and how it resonates on its own merit. It underscores that a literary work's value lies in its audience’s experience rather than the author's intended message.