William K. Wimsatt: The Intentional Fallacy and Affective Fallacy

William K. Wimsatt (1907-1975) was an esteemed American literary theorist and professor, renowned for his work in the field of literary criticism. One of his significant contributions was the concept of the "Intentional Fallacy," as explored in his co-written book with Beardsley, The Verbal Icon (1954). The Intentional Fallacy The Intentional Fallacy is the mistake of evaluating a work based on the author's intention or design. Wimsatt rejects the idea that an author's intent should influence the interpretation of a text. According to him, a work of art should be evaluated independently of the author's intended meaning, and the act of reading should be an autonomous activity unaffected by external factors, such as the author's biography. The Intentional Fallacy liberates the act of readership from the author's omniscience, emphasizing that the relationship between a text and its audience is independent of the author's presence. The act of reading becomes…