Affective Fallacy

Pronunciation: /əˈfɛktɪv ˈfæləsi/

Definitions of affective fallacy

noun a term used in literary criticism to describe the practice of judging a work based on the emotional responses it evokes in the reader or viewer rather than its artistic merits

Example Sentences

A1 An affective fallacy is when a person's emotions influence their interpretation of a text.

A2 Students at the A2 level may struggle to understand the concept of affective fallacy in literary analysis.

B1 In B1 level English classes, students are introduced to the idea of affective fallacy and how it can impact their understanding of a text.

B2 Advanced readers at the B2 level are able to recognize and critique instances of affective fallacy in literary criticism.

C1 C1 level scholars often debate the validity of the affective fallacy as a critical approach to analyzing literature.

C2 Literary critics at the C2 level are expected to have a deep understanding of the affective fallacy and its implications for interpretation.

Examples of affective fallacy in a Sentence

formal The literary critic warned against committing the affective fallacy when interpreting the poem.

informal Don't let your emotions cloud your judgment and fall into the affective fallacy trap.

slang Don't get all caught up in your feelings and make the affective fallacy mistake.

figurative Just because a story makes you feel a certain way doesn't mean it's immune to the affective fallacy.

Grammatical Forms of affective fallacy

• past tense: affected
• plural: affective fallacies
• comparative: more affective fallacy
• superlative: most affective fallacy
• present tense: affects
• future tense: will affect
• perfect tense: has affected
• continuous tense: is affecting
• singular: affective fallacy
• positive degree: very affective fallacy
• infinitive: to affect
• gerund: affecting
• participle: affected

Origin and Evolution of affective fallacy

First Known Use: 1946 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The term 'affective fallacy' was coined by W.K. Wimsatt and Monroe Beardsley in their essay 'The Affective Fallacy' published in 1946.

Evolution of the word: The term 'affective fallacy' has been widely used in literary criticism to refer to the mistake of judging a work based on the emotional response it elicits in the reader, rather than on the work itself. It has since become a key concept in the field of literary theory and criticism.