The correct answer is 2. Intentional fallacy.
This term refers to the error of interpreting a literary work based on the author's intended meaning, purpose, or design, rather than analyzing the work itself. It assumes that the author's intentions should guide the interpretation of the text, which can limit a more objective or text-based reading.
Here’s a breakdown of the terms:
Affective fallacy: This refers to the mistake of interpreting a literary work based on the emotional response it evokes in the reader, rather than focusing on the text itself. It's about the personal feelings and reactions of the reader, rather than the author's intent or the text's inherent meaning.
Intentional fallacy: This is the correct answer. It refers to the mistake of interpreting a work by trying to discover or infer the author's intentions, as if these intentions determine the correct meaning of the text. This view is criticized because it shifts the focus away from the text itself and towards extrinsic elements, like the author's purpose or biography.
Authorial fallacy: This is a less commonly used term, but it can sometimes be synonymous with the intentional fallacy, referring to the idea that the author’s personal design and purpose should be the primary guide to understanding the text.
Synecdochic fallacy: This is not a standard term in literary criticism. Synecdoche is a figure of speech where a part of something is used to represent the whole, or vice versa. "Synecdochic fallacy" would not apply here in the context of literary interpretation.
In sum, the intentional fallacy focuses on the error of interpreting a literary work by looking at the author's intentions or biographical context instead of analyzing the text as a self-contained entity.
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