The Literary Work of Art

In Roman Ingarden's seminal work, (1931), he defines a literary work not as a physical book or a purely mental experience, but as a "purely intentional object" with a unique, multi-layered structure.

Ingarden’s Legacy: Why This 1931 Book Still Matters

Related Works:

These gaps require the reader to engage in "concretization." The literary work exists as a potentiality until a reader interacts with it, filling in the holes with their own imagination and experiences. This idea laid the groundwork for modern Reader-Response Theory. Why Study Ingarden Today?