Quick question for the English majors: what two components shape an author's reason for writing?

[RobShein]

I'm a freshman considering an English major, and I'm trying to understand some foundational concepts. In my intro to literary studies class, we keep talking about author's purpose, but I'm not clear on what two components shape an author's reason for writing. I've gathered from our readings that it's not just about the author's intention—there's also something about the audience and the context . One of my TAs mentioned that purpose comes from the intersection of the author's goal and the audience's expectations. Is that accurate? And does this apply to all types of writing, from poetry to textbooks? I'm trying to build a solid foundation for my major, so I want to understand this correctly from the start.

 

[Mark2003]

Your TA's answer is solid. Purpose (what the author wants to accomplish) and audience (who they're trying to reach) are the two core components. But here's how it gets complicated: in literature, the "author" isn't always straightforward. Sometimes the narrator is a character with their own agenda. Sometimes the author is being ironic, saying one thing but meaning another. That's where interpretation gets interesting.

The reason your TA mentioned audience expectations is crucial. If you're writing for academics, you use different strategies than if you're writing for teenagers. The same purpose—say, to argue for climate action—looks completely different depending on who you're addressing.

And yes, this applies to everything. Poetry, novels, textbooks, even tweets. Every piece of writing exists at the intersection of someone's goal and someone else's attention. You're building a great foundation.