What does authorial intent refer to in a literary context?

Authorial intent in a literary context refers specifically to the author's purpose as encoded in their work. This concept emphasizes what the author aims to convey through their writing, including the messages, themes, and emotions they wish to express. Understanding authorial intent helps readers interpret a text beyond the surface level, allowing them to grasp deeper meanings and appreciate the choices the author made in crafting their narrative, including tone, structure, and character development.

The other aspects, such as the themes explored or the author's background, provide valuable context but do not encapsulate the core of authorial intent itself. The style employed is indeed a part of how an author's intent might be communicated, but it is ultimately tied back to the larger purpose the author wishes to achieve through their work. Therefore, recognizing authorial intent enriches the reading experience by clarifying what the author hopes to accomplish through their literary creation.