William K. Wimsatt
William Kurtz Wimsatt Jr. was an American literary theorist and critic, known for his work in the field of New Criticism. He is best known for co-authoring the influential essay 'The Intentional Fallacy' with Monroe Beardsley, which argues against the reliance on an author's intention in the interpretation of literary works.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
-
1. The Verbal Icon
Studies in the Meaning of Poetry
This seminal work delves into the intricacies of literary criticism, emphasizing the importance of the text itself over the author's intentions or the reader's emotional response. It argues for an objective approach to understanding literature, where the meaning is derived from the words on the page and their interaction, rather than external influences. Through a series of essays, it challenges traditional notions of interpretation, advocating for a more structured and analytical method that focuses on the inherent qualities of the literary work.
Purchase from Bookshop.org