From the Author's Side:
* Ambiguity: Intentional or unintentional vagueness in language, symbolism, or character development can lead to multiple interpretations. Authors might deliberately leave things open to interpretation.
* Subtext: Underlying meanings or messages not explicitly stated. The reader needs to infer these.
* Authorial Intent (and its limitations): While authors intend to convey certain meanings, their own biases, limitations, and the historical context might influence the work in ways they didn't fully anticipate. The intended meaning might be lost or misinterpreted even if the author's intent is clear.
* Changes over time: Language evolves. What was clear or shocking in one era might be obscure or commonplace in another. Social norms and cultural understandings shift, affecting how a text is read.
* Evolution of the text: Revisions, edits, or different published versions can alter the author's original intentions.
From the Reader's Side:
* Prior knowledge and experience: A reader's background, beliefs, education, and personal experiences significantly shape their understanding and interpretation. What resonates with one reader might be missed by another.
* Cultural background: Different cultures have different values, beliefs, and perspectives, leading to varying interpretations of the same text.
* Critical lens: The approach a reader takes (feminist, Marxist, psychoanalytic, etc.) will frame their interpretation and highlight certain aspects over others.
* Contextual understanding: The reader's understanding of the historical, social, and literary context of the work affects interpretation.
* Reading skills and engagement: Poor reading comprehension or lack of engagement can lead to a misinterpretation of the text.
* Emotional response: A reader's emotional state can influence how they perceive the text and its meaning.
External Factors:
* Censorship and editing: Changes imposed by publishers, censors, or others can significantly alter the meaning of a work.
* Translations: The process of translation can introduce nuances or inaccuracies that affect the original intended meaning.
* Adaptations (film, stage, etc.): Transforming a literary work into another medium often necessitates changes that impact its meaning.
Ultimately, the "intended meaning" of literature is often a complex and elusive concept. While authors have intentions, the ultimate meaning of a work resides in the interaction between the text itself and the reader's active engagement with it. Multiple interpretations are often valid, even if they differ from what the author might have envisioned.